News and AnalysIs for

In a week of big headlines, including the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Juan Manuel Santos, we highlight another substantial development: the peace talks with the ELN guerrilla will start on October 27^th in Ecuador.

Following the announcement of a formal start to peace talks with the ELN guerilla, the Vice Minister of Mines and Energy Carlos Andrés Cante said this is a particularly good development for the oil and mining industries.

The uncertainty following the win of the “no” vote in Sunday’s plebiscite is still as deep as ever. There have been several developments though: a march in favor of peace, a rare Uribe/Santos meeting and a deadline for the ceasefire in the very near future.

We have changed to a monthly graph since counts have dropped so much that we are only reporting that frequently. Today, it looks like counts will stay low for a few months anyway.

There have been eight consecutive months with production below the coveted million barrels a day mark. While the fall in oil prices is a principal factor, it is just one of the reasons for this fall from grace, which has left its mark on public finances.

President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc commander Rodrigo Londoño alias ‘Timochenko’ signed the peace agreement in a historic session in Cartagena. Now the deal must be approved in a crucial plebiscite this Sunday, October 2^nd.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) said the second phase of its joint program with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) to reduce community conflict, the “Territorial Strategy” (ETH), has consolidated its second phase. The ministry shared results thus far in 2016,

As President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the UN general assembly saying “there is one less war on this planet”, a recent survey found that the “yes” votes are leading, but there is still plenty of skepticism on the process.

In a contrast to the largely positive coverage of the “end of the war” from international press, there is at least one report pointing out that things could get more difficult for the industry in the post conflict era.

The countdown to the September 26^th signing and October 2^nd, and proposals abound for the public figures behind the “yes” and “no” campaign to meet in a dialogue, or even a public debate.