The Colombia Canada Chamber of Commerce held its most important academic event recently and while the oil and gas sector was not supposed to be featured this year, there turned out to be much back and forth between industry and government representatives.
Following another round of talks in a process that have stretched for more than 2 years, involving departmental and national government intervention, 10 oil operators signed an agreement with a group of local transportation firms. The number pales in comparison to the 48 oil companies operating in the department, and the largest: Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) did not sign.
Colombia total production was down 4mbd sequentially. Now that some of the major players have reported, the winners and losers are becoming clearer.
The oil industry is interested in continuing to invest in Colombia, but three principal factors – licensing, attacks and blockades — are making an already complex process even more difficult and threatens the economic potential that the industry could generate, says the president of the Colombian Petroleum Association Alejandro Martinez.
Fuel prices dropped in May as the Ministry of Mines and Energy adjusts its formula to set them, while the issue continues to gain traction on different fronts.
Accusations that oil production is destroying local water resources continued to make their way, while a number of oil industry institutions have embarked on campaigns to counter the idea, which is being used to advance the agenda of those opposed to oil. These and other environmental stories from local media.
In a joint session of economic commissions from both Colombia’s Senate and House, the Finance Minister Mauricio Cárdenas presented four new changes to the General Royalty System that look to give it access to other sources of funds in case royalties from mining and energy production taper off.
The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) and the Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR) have launched the third voyage of a study of the marine life in the Guajira Offshore 3 (GUA OFF 3) block in the Colombian Caribbean.
The Minister of Mines and Energy Amylkar Acosta confirmed that at least three supermajor oil producers –ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) and BG Group (LSE:BG.L)- will participate in the Colombia 2014 Round.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy sent its two highest ranking officials to discuss transportation infrastructure at a recent conference held by Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) transportation spin off Cenit. They announced a new regulatory structure and looked to reaffirm MinMinas commitments to large, strategic infrastructure projects.