On the same day that the company announced buying 75% of Alvopetro S.A., a company with operations and tight oil opportunities in Brazil, Petrominerales made a wide ranging announcement of operations, finance and exploration plans for 2013.
HCC Managing Editor Wally Swain and collaborator Algimantas Didziulis had a conversation with the ex-head of the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), Armando Zamora. Zamora was the very first head of the ANH so his comments carry considerable weight in the industry.
Like all oil and gas companies in the Colombian market, Petrominerales must be concerned with its investment in community relations. These investments fall into two buckets: compliance and long term, sustainable, program-oriented initiatives.
As reported by newspaper El Nuevo Siglo, there are now about 50,302 oil service workers in Colombia. Of these, 18,401 (36%) are unqualified staff, 18,431 (37%) have a technical degree and 13,470 (27%) are professionals. 15.636 (31%) are permanent employees and 34.667 (69%) have a temporary contract.
Newspaper El Neuvo Siglo reports on the growth of bio-fuels from a forum called “Past, present and future of bio-fuels policy in Colombia”. It says that demand has doubled in just the past two years. The current mix is 8% bio-fuel to 92% conventional gasoline and the industry wants that to increase to 10%. Bio-diesel is another opportunity especially in large scale mining operations.
Water issues are especially important in Colombia given the uncertain framework around unconventional hydrocarbons and the significant use of water both as an input and an output of heavy oil extraction in the Llanos. Recently the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development brought together a number of government and academic groups to study underground aquifers. From a MinAmbiente press release, translated, and with comments by Hydrocarbons Colombia.