Delays in renovating the regulation of rates to transport natural gas has meant US$600M in investments have been delayed while the industry awaited more details over the course of the last five years, says the president of natural gas producer Promigas Antonio Celia Martínez.
Senator Jorge Robledo, a vocal critic of the oil industry, has warned that there could be a possible conspiracy of fuel importers and multinational firms that want to keep the Barrancabermeja Refinery from being modernized.
While officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MiMinas) have started making the rounds to defend the regulatory framework and requirements for companies to use fracking techniques, the Minister of Housing Luis Felipe Henao has said he is concerned about the practice due to its potential impact on water sources.
The new Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) Gabriel Vallejo has made his first public addresses to the congress and the national park service, giving the first glimpse into the authority’s priorities under his watch. Bottlenecks in environmental licensing were not mentioned.
A rigorous regulatory framework proceeded the approval of fracking techniques says the Minister of Mines and Energy Tomás González (MinMinas) who looks to counter critics which have filled the media over the last two weeks.
The General Controller’s office has gone through a roller coaster ride over the last week, but made sure to remind the government on the risks of oil production that utilizes fracking, due to its potential environmental impact.
A decision on whether or not Ecopetrol will take over the production contract of the Rubiales field will not be made until the middle of 2015, and the president of Ecopetrol Javier Gutiérrez has told the Senate that the NOC is capable of operating the field on its own.
Casanare congressional representative Jorge Abril Tarache addressed a congressional session and rejected the use of fracking techniques in Casanare, which he says has suffered the environmental impact of the oil industry, as well as the loss of royalties, damage by tanker trucks and more.
Senator Maritza Martínez has presented a legislative bill that would modify the General Royalty System (SGR) kicking off a debate on the original reform of the royalty law, a frequent target of criticisms from producing regions.
Vice Minister of Energy Orlando Cabrales continued his push to articulate the government’s plan to see that contracts worth nearly US$6B from the Rounds 2012 and 2014 are implemented, improve community relationships and the reserve supply while they are at it.
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