Those of us who grew up in Anglo-Saxon political systems with their long tradition of cabinet solidarity were no doubt shocked by Colombian Vice President German Vargas Lleras’ speech to the industry at the Colombian Petroleum Association’s 50th anniversary conference. In closing, he launched a virulent attack on his cabinet colleagues for not doing enough to maintain government revenues from the sector. The targets of his ire, MinMinas González and MinHacienda Cárdenas spoke later that morning.
GasThe Natural Gas Association (Naturgas) president Eduardo Pizano says that the organization expects new gas production to come online in the first quarter of 2016, with an additional 130mmcfd due to developments from a handful of companies.
Brito Alto communities in Casanare protest Muérgana Sur drilling, meanwhile Ecopetrol’s Castilla Field workers support a caimán rescue. These and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) has been emphasizing its opportunities outside of Colombia and the president of its Brazilian unit, Joao Guilherme Clark said just ahead of the block auction last week it was interested in growing its participation in E&P blocks, but in the end made no bid to do so.
The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) invited an international energy expert to address the industry and highlighted a need to keep regulations flexible and operators efficient, and added that oil prices cannot continue to be blamed for all of the issues.
Low water levels on the Magdalena River have complicated the potential of the recently opened waterway to be used as a transport corridor, resulting in losses for shipping companies and higher costs for Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC).
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