Since May the peace talks in Havana have yet to render any solid agreements, but this week Farc and government negotiators announced common ground on the second of five agenda points: political participation.
Incidents near areas of interest to the oil and gas industry were back down this week to 29 below recent and long-term averages. Non-Armed Forces incidents were slightly above average at 17%. This is our indicator of increased guerrilla-initiated activity. Despite this, our 4-week Moving Average incident count was up to 33.5 but the 52 week average was down but essentially unchanged at 34.0 incidents per week.
This week the political party of former President Alvaro Uribe chose its candidate for next year’s presidential election and already the dialogue in the media seems to be between President Juan Manuel Santos and Óscar Iván Zuluaga, representing Uribe’s ideology, adding another layer of complexity to the peace negotiations.
A perfect storm of terrorist attacks on oil infrastructure in Caquetá, Putumayo and Meta along with extended mining and agricultural strikes have contributed to a 43% increase in emergencies stemming from crude leaks in January to September 2013, compared to all of 2012.
Incidents near areas of interest to the oil and gas industry were up significantly to 42 this week well above recent and long-term averages and the highest level since March. As well, non-Armed Forces incidents were slightly above average at 17%. This is our indicator of increased guerrilla-initiated activity. Correspondingly, our 4-week Moving Average incident count was up to 32 but the 52 week average was essentially unchanged at 34.2 incidents per week.
Colombia’s Senate approved this week a bill to allow the proposed referendum to accept an eventual peace agreement with the Farc on the same day of legislative or presidential elections.
Law enforcement and officials from the Arauca Department held an extraordinary meeting of the region’s security council to analyze the wave of terrorist activity which has fell upon the department.
After a rise in terrorist activities targeting energy infrastructure, kidnappings and extortion in Eastern Colombia the national police, Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and the Attorney General’s office have signed a cooperation agreement to combat the rise in security threats.
A total of 46 oil producers in Colombia, roughly 70% of the industry, say that operational restrictions from community blockades are a primary concern when operating in the country.
Incidents near areas of interest to the oil and gas industry were essentially unchanged at 31 consistent with the recent experience but slightly below the long-term average. However, non-Armed Forces incidents were above average at 19%. This is our indicator of increased guerrilla-initiated activity. Correspondingly, our 4-week Moving Average incident count was stable at 29.5 but the 52 week average dropped slightly to 34.3 incidents per week.