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As reported by RCN Radio, road blocks were lifted around Yopal, capital of the Casanare department (which produces 18% of the country’s oil and 70% of its gas) after citizens barriaded them to protest the lack of water. According to Ivan Mustafa, Deputy Minister of Water, an agreement between the government and the people of Yopal was reached. Meanwhile, people will continue to receive water in tanker trucks.

With investors walking away from Colombian oil and gas stocks but interest rates low and companies still upbeat about their prospects, there have been a number of announcements about new debt issues and debt intentions. Other less conventional uses of cash like share buybacks have also become more prevalent.

As reported by Dinero, by February this year the stock-market capitalization of the companies listed on the Colombia Stock Exchange (BVC) increased by 6% compared to February of 2012, going from US$248B to US$263B. This even though capitalization declined compared to January this year, when it was US$273B.

It came as a tweet inviting contractors and providers to review the company’s Corporate Code on Conduct and Ethics. But Pacific makes it clear as early as page 7 that “the principles listed in this Code form part of your contractual agreement with Pacific Rubiales Energy and its subsidiaries”. Having been burned at least once by ethical lapses on the part of its contractors, the company does not want it to happen again.

As reported by Portafolio, Fulvio Conti, president of power company Enel, announced that the company will enter “the gas-selling business, gradually, focusing on end customers, especially in Colombia and Chile.” Conti said that entering this business would be handled by Endesa and will be conducted over the next five years. Thus, Enel would replicate the business model that has in Europe, where subsidiary Endesa Gas is the second largest gas marketer in Spain.

Ecopetrol is sending out a number of press releases designed to bolster its corporate social responsibility credentials. This week, environmental issues have the focus especially the company’s considerable investment as part of its long-term strategy to produce “clean barrels”. From an Ecopetrol press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.