After having its environmental license revoked days after it was approved by the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA), Hupecol said that it is looking at either a lawsuit against the state or an arbitration to resolve the issue and be compensated.
The State Council ruled against Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and said that an administrative ruling that stemmed from a public referendum against oil activities in Tauramena was not its business, and rather it should be decided by a different court. Local press have labeled it as a win for the residents opposed to exploration and production activities.
The government is mulling changes in the organization of the entities which approve royalty projects, the OCADS, to encourage large scale, high-impact initiatives instead of small scale, local pet projects, and to address a trend of stagnated advances. This is “contrary to the philosophy” of the royalty reforms, officials say. This and other royalty related stories in our periodic round-up.
Authorities and the El Centro settlement have agreed to form six work groups to talk local hiring, and protestors have lifted blockades of La Cira Infantas in Santander.
After nearly a month and a half after the exit of Tomás González, President Juan Manuel Santos has named Germán Arce as the new Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas).
GasThe municipal utility firm of Medellín (EPM) will follow up on its CoP$80B investment on natural gas infrastructure in 2015 with another CoP$50B this year, part of its plan to develop this strategic business.