ACP as a source of information
Source: El Tiempo – National
Date: October 06
Headline: What comes with the high dollar?
The price of the dollar during this week put adrenaline into the markets. The currency was traded above the worrying figure of 3,500 pesos, which marked historical highs and generated a list of concerns among citizens. (…) Moreover, the Ministry of Finance made calculations regarding this and established that for every 100 pesos of devaluation, above what the country expected (exchange rate of $ 3,250), it implies roughly one trillion more in fiscal revenues. However, just as more public money is generated from royalties and Ecopetrol's revenues, the country's dollar debt also increases. (…) Graph. Evolution of Colombia's oil revenue. Source. ACP with data from Dian, ANH, and the Ministry of Finance.
Source: El País – Regional
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: October 06
Headline: Two escapes
The escape of Aída Merlano is neither the first nor the most complex of those that have occurred. It is indeed one of the most shameful as it calls into question and, worse, ridicules, the penitentiary system. No wonder her images descending the rope and escaping on a motorcycle, along with the fraternal farewell in the office, went around the world. One does not know whether to cry out of anger or laughter, or a mix, due to how embarrassing and outrageous it is. And yes, of course, the director of Inpec, the director of the prison, and those who facilitated the escape from within should be dismissed immediately, and those who were undoubtedly accomplices should be prosecuted: the relatives who were inside the office and the dentist, that hug is not for how beautiful her smile turned out. Replicated in:elpais.com.co (October 06).
Source: El Meridiano de Sucre – Regional
Date: October 06
Headline: Fracking pilots
The four fracking research pilots in Colombia will require investments of 600 million dollars per year, according to calculations by the Colombian Petroleum Association. The pilots, which the Council of State has approved, would take place in the Magdalena Medio and Cesar-Ranchería basin. The industry hopes that the works can be carried out next year.
Source: El Meridiano de Córdoba – Regional
Date: October 06
Headline: Pilots
The four fracking research pilots in Colombia will require investments of 600 million dollars per year, according to calculations by the Colombian Petroleum Association. The pilots, which the Council of State has approved, would take place in the Magdalena Medio and Cesar-Ranchería basin. The industry hopes that the works can be carried out next year.
Source: alponiente.com – National
Date: October 06
Headline: Fracking, a politicized debate
First, it should be said that fracking is a technique carried out through hydraulic fracturing of the subsurface that facilitates the extraction of gas and oil from unconventional deposits, thus enabling the alternative to increase the reserves of these minerals in greater numbers. (…) For some, the idea of thinking about whether fracking is bad or not will remain relevant, but what we cannot imagine is that in a few years we will lose our energy self-sufficiency, which would undoubtedly be fatal for the country's economy, which is why it is noteworthy that the current President of the ACP, Francisco Lloreda, emphasizes the importance that Colombia cannot fall behind in the development of fracking, since continuing on the path of uncertainty could cost the country facing a hostile and circumstantial scenario, which in practical terms would lead us to import gas and oil, resulting in an increase in costs that all Colombians would have to bear.
Source: El Heraldo – Regional
Date: October 05
Headline: Preparing human talent, the challenge of the offshore industry
Barranquilla has taken the lead, say ACP and Ecopetrol at Investment Summit 2019. Finding more gas reserves and legislating for legal stability are the other challenges. In four years, Barranquilla will need to have enough human talent for the services required by the development of the offshore industry, as it is expected that by 2024 the offshore will begin the production stage. At the Investment Summit 2019, the leadership that the city already has to respond to the demand for services and challenges has been highlighted. (…) Francisco Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), said that what makes Barranquilla advantageous in offering services for offshore development is its guild leadership. (…) The Offshore Investment Summit was organized by Merco and the Colombian Association of Petroleum Engineers (Acipet) with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH). Replicated in:elheraldo.co (October 04).
Source: La Libertad – Regional
Date: October 05
Headline: We must bet on unconventional fuels
The president of the Colombian Petroleum Association, ACP, Francisco Lloreda, indicated that due to the limited reserves of oil and gas that Colombia has, different types of deposits and techniques must be pursued to maintain self-sufficiency in this matter. He was emphatic in stating that losing self-sufficiency in hydrocarbons would be a debacle that all Colombians would end up paying for. “We must bet on different fronts in both conventional deposits, mature fields, and enhanced recovery. It is necessary to advance in the exploration of unconventional deposits and firmly in offshore exploration,” Lloreda stated during his participation in the “Offshore Investment Summit 2019: Colombia, a new era,” which took place at the Country Club of Barranquilla. Replicated in: diariolalibertad.com (October 04).
Source: Telecaribe – Regional
Date: October 04
Source: elheraldo.co – Regional
Date: October 04
Headline: In video | «Without oil and gas we will not have transition but energy regression in Colombia»: ACP
Francisco Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association, highlighted Barranquilla at the Offshore Investment Summit 2019 as the city that will host the offshore industry in Colombia. Francisco Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association, ACP, emphasized the moment and projection of Barranquilla as a future city for offshore development. The leader made this statement at the beginning of the second day of the Offshore Investment Summit 2019 held at the Country Club. (…) The decisions of the National Hydrocarbons Agency in recent times were also highlighted by the president of the ACP, among which he emphasized the process of area allocation, offshore contracts, and that fracking can be done in the country by dismantling its myths.
Hydrocarbons Sector
Source: El Tiempo
Date: October 07
Headline: Explosion in Trasandino pipeline
Ecopetrol reported yesterday that illegal groups from Putumayo attacked a pipeline of the Trasandino oil pipeline in the Las Palmeras village, belonging to the municipality of Orito. According to the oil company, the explosion caused an oil spill in the area, particularly affecting the Guamúez River.
Source: El Espectador
Date: October 07
Headline: Fuel prices for October
The Ministry of Mines and Energy said that starting today the price of gasoline in the 13 main cities will be on average $9.300 per gallon, meaning the figure remains stable compared to what was in effect in September. As for ACPM, a decrease was recorded, from $8.918 in September to $8.879 in October.
Source: El Espectador
Date: October 07
Headline: New attack on the Transandino pipeline
A new attack on the Transandino pipeline occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, October 5. At 1:39 p.m., in the Valle de las Palmas neighborhood, in the municipality of Orito (Putumayo), there was a detonation that caused a spill affecting the Guamiles River. As reported by Ecopetrol in a statement, «the attack caused the rupture of the pipeline and the spill of crude oil in the area. At the time, the pipeline was not operating and the valves were closed to prevent greater damage.» This is not the first time an explosion has affected the Transandino pipeline, which transports crude oil produced between the departments of Nariño and Putumayo. In 2019, according to the company, 19 attacks have been recorded.
Source: La República
Date: October 07
Headline: Chevron buys 40% of Shell blocks
Mexico City. The oil company Chevron Corp. confirmed that it signed an agreement with a unit of Royal Dutch Shell to acquire 40% of its stake in three deep-water blocks in Mexico, which the Anglo-Dutch firm won in auctions as part of the energy reform in Mexico.
Source: La República
Date: October 07
Headline: The dollar would be close to $3.400 this week
Last week, the dollar reached a new historical maximum Representative Market Rate (TRM) ($3.497,34) and tested $3.500 on Wednesday. However, it lost strength on Thursday and Friday, closing at an average price of $3.430,23. (…) According to the analysts consulted, on average, the Colcap will trade this week at 1,590 units, slightly lower than the value it closed at on Friday, which was 1,593.05 units. In Colombia, the market will be attentive to news of the Éxito takeover bid and the issuance of dollar bonds by Promigas, which will affect the movement of the exchange rate. On the oil price side, on average, analysts project that the WTI barrel will be at US$53.5, US$0.69 above Friday's closing price.
Source: La República
Date: October 07
Headline: Villavicencio, city with the most expensive regular gasoline
The Ministry of Mines and Energy reported that the average price of regular gasoline remained at $9.300, while the price of a gallon of ACPM reached $8.879. These figures confirm that gasoline prices remain unchanged compared to last month, while ACPM prices have a slight decrease compared to September. According to the new report, the average value of ACPM in the 13 main cities of the country decreased by 0.43%, meaning it will go from $8.918 in September to $8.879 starting today. Based on the data provided by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which shows the same prices for regular gasoline as last month, it can be concluded that so far this year, this fuel has had an average increase of 2.5%.
Source: Portafolio
Date: October 07
Headline: Due to a decrease in blending, eleven biodiesel plants close
The Government's decision to lower the biodiesel blend in ACPM for transportation in Colombia from 12% to 2% left 11 production plants of this liquid from palm oil without a market, which supply this vehicular biofuel. The impact of the plant closures will be felt directly among palm growers, as the plantings are scheduled according to demand, and now they will have to accumulate or sell the raw material at a lower price. (…) Regarding prices, last Friday, the Ministry of Mines and Energy repealed resolution 4-0689 of this year and issued 4-0753, which establishes the income for the producer of fuel alcohol and biofuels for the use of diesel engines, effective from today, Monday. The measure states that the income for the fuel alcohol producer is $7,679.15 per gallon, and for the biofuel for diesel engines is $10,626.86 per gallon, starting today.
Source: Portafolio
Date: October 07
Headline: Lightness and morbidity. By: Sergio Calderón Acevedo
If heaven exists, there must be a permanent editorial board of the great journalists of the past. Discussing the issues of Colombia, I imagine Laureano and Álvaro Gómez, Guillermo Cano, Enrique Santos Castillo, Gabo, Luis Carlos Galán, Juan Diego Jaramillo, and other giants. (…) They are also not worried about the mess of external accounts, and they reduce their analysis to whether the price of oil went up or down, and that a fascist in Washington is waging a ‘trade war,’ which they also do not understand. And the dollar is at 3,500, and none of them mention that the currency crisis has already arrived. They do not dedicate a single line to the withering of the real economy, that of tradable goods, agriculture, mining, manufacturing industry, and construction.
Source: Hoy Diario del Magdalena
Date: October 07
Headline: CUT calls for a strike on November 21
In light of a potential pension and labor reform proposed by the Duque government, the Central Unitaria de Trabajo called for a national strike on November 21. Additionally, they stated that they will join the student mobilizations. (…) “The sale of public assets continues with the sale of the remaining 20% of Ecopetrol shares, the auction of ISA, the sale of the pipeline (Cenit), also of state-owned electricity companies, and any asset in which the State has less than 49% ownership.
Source: El Tiempo
Date: October 06
Headline: Clear Accounts. By: Mauricio Galindo
(…) While there is consideration not to extract oil. While Colombia thinks about fracking, it could become an oil importer, and those revenues would automatically turn into expenses. To replace them, exports from the industry would need to triple. Or more than triple food, agriculture, and beverage exports, or for workers abroad to triple the remittances sent to their families. The oil gap would be US$ 17 billion a year.
Source: El Tiempo
Date: October 06
Headline: The money sent by Colombians from abroad has become one of the engines of the economy
It had been just another workday, at the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. At the end of the day, Diana Acosta took advantage of a free moment to open the Xoom app on her cell phone and repeat the routine of every month. (…) Only oil contributes more, as everything points to coal giving way to remittances in second place, which are growing at a rate of over 10 percent this year. Given the large trade balance deficit, what comes in transfers is essential to largely finance that imbalance.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: October 06
Headline: Cheap dollar is a thing of the past
Global uncertainty over a possible recession generates volatility and raises the price of the dollar. And although the economy in Colombia is growing, non-traditional exports are not. On October 2, the exchange rate briefly surpassed the glass ceiling of 3500 pesos per dollar. (…) After all, Colombia was able to adjust its economy after the collapse of oil prices between 2014 and 2016. Since then, that price has recovered, along with external income for the economy. However, the dynamism of non-traditional exports and the dollars they bring has not been recovered, the Achilles' heel of the Colombian economy. (…) In Colombia, the rate was devalued when the price of oil collapsed in 2014, and now it is doing so due to uncertainty about the health of the global economy that scares investors, which adds to the weakness of Colombian non-traditional exports.
Source: Vanguardia Liberal
Date: October 06
Headline: Starting tomorrow, a gallon of gasoline will cost $9.533 and Acpm at $9.061.
Through a statement, the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced the update of fuel prices, which will take effect starting Monday, October 7, 2019. (…) With the data provided by the Ministry, which shows the same prices as last month, it can be concluded that so far this year, gasoline has had an average increase of 2.5% and Acpm, an increase of 5.15%. Since there have been no changes in the average price of regular gasoline and Acpm, cities continue to be in the same order as last month without showing differences in their reference prices in both fuel categories.
Source: El Universal
Date: October 06
Headline: Trans-Andean Aqueduct, with contingency plan.
Following an attack registered at 2 p.m. yesterday against the Trans-Andean pipeline (OTA) of Ecopetrol, located in Orito (Putumayo), the company decided to activate its contingency plan, according to information provided in a press release. (…) “Ecopetrol emphatically rejects these illegal actions that endanger the integrity of people, severely affecting the environment and the well-being of communities near the oil infrastructure,” the document added.
Source: La Opinión
Date: October 06
Headline: The agony of Lake Maracaibo.
By the smell, it seems like a refinery. When touched, the crude oil permeates all its viscosity. In the west of Venezuela, Lake Maracaibo, whose subsoil is full of oil, is dying in a constant spill of crude oil, fed by pipelines and wells lacking maintenance. (…) The fall in oil prices, combined with U.S. sanctions, and the lack of maintenance of the infrastructure have collapsed production from 3.2 million barrels per day (bpd) ten years ago to less than one million bpd currently. (…) PDVSA has not published figures on the volume of oil that leaks daily into Lake Maracaibo. AFP requested the information from the company but did not receive a response.
Regional News
Source: violetastereo.com
Date: October 05
Headline: Perenco and Halliburton questioned for allegedly transporting explosives without safety!
The owners of the property known as “Hacienda Bufalera Rodesia” in the El Tesoro del Bubuy village, in the municipality of Aguazul, report that the oil company “Perenco” would be violating safety protocols and those of the Civil Aeronautics when transporting and handling explosives. Allegedly, this multinational has been transporting explosives indiscriminately, without the competent authorities providing the necessary oversight. On the other hand, the owners of the property where the Gloria station is located claim they were never informed of these movements. (…) Contact Noticias repeatedly called the institutional mobile of Mauricio Guzmán, manager of External Affairs of Perenco, to know the company's version on this matter, but communication was not possible.
Source: lavozdelcinaruco.com
Date: October 04
Headline: They denounce a cartel of contractors and guerrilla endorsements for candidates in Arauca.
Serious were the complaints presented by some candidates and representatives of political parties and movements during the Expanded Electoral Monitoring Committee chaired by the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez, in the Casa Real Events Hall of the Araucana capital. Juan Carlos Santamaría recalled the request to suspend the elections due to the difficult public order situation in the region, a decision not shared by the president of the National Electoral Council, Hernán Penagos, because this would represent weakness of the State and give ground to the violent in their attempts to weaken institutionalism.
Source: lavozdelcinaruco.com
Date: October 04
Headline: Government will evaluate the request of the candidates from Arauca to close the border during the elections.
The Minister of the Interior, Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez, chaired the Departmental and Municipal Commission for the coordination and monitoring of the electoral processes in Arauca. Representatives of political parties and candidates participated in the meeting, presenting their concerns and difficulties for the campaigns in the region. Delegates from the National Government, the Attorney General's Office, the MOE, the Military Forces, and the Police addressed the concerns. With a unanimous request from the candidates of all participating political parties in the electoral contest in the department of Arauca, for the National Government to close the border with Venezuela 15 days before the elections, the Departmental and Municipal Commission for the Coordination and Monitoring of Electoral Processes concluded.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas