Another week without an agreement or much to say that would change the course of dwindling expectations for the peace process. With an election season in full swing, the hope for an early conclusion to the peace process is drawing less and less enthusiasm.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) invested CoP$1.3T (US$645M) in environmental projects during 2013, which it says is the highest amount dedicated to these ends in the last eight years.
Citiing a UN agreement to protect 17% of the country’s land mass, authorities are looking to add eight more parks in La Guajira, Arauca, Meta, and Serranía de San Lucas, thus prohibiting any sort of extractive activities in the area.
A number of communities in the Aguazul and Maní municipalities have issued a joint statement to local press alleging that oil operator Perenco Colombia is not complying with legal requirements on environmental, social responsibility and soclaization matters. Is this the latest community to engage in hardball negotiations with oil producers or are the accusations founded?
Ecopetrol has a number of programs including bridge improvements and educational programs, while Raven says its ready to invest in social programs and Llanopetrol is backing students for petrochemical studies. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility programs to make local press lately.
Local hiring and the ongoing debate between the economic benefits to the local economy achieved through using tankers to transport crude stood out as the top items in this week’s road review.