ACP as a source of information
Source: El País – Regional
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: December 08
Headline: Democracy and social networks
For several years now, the future of democracy has been discussed. It is considered to be in crisis, among other reasons, because its real capacity for representation is questioned, partly due to the impact of social networks as a means of citizen participation. A new power, overwhelming, with positive aspects, but also negative ones; some of which are known, others yet to be discovered, particularly in political matters. (…) But care must be taken, lest it ends up leading not to a more participatory and theoretically direct democracy, but to an impulsive and irresponsible one. Networks can strengthen or destroy our democracy; it depends on all of us to be its guardians or its undertakers. Responded in: elpais.com.co (December 08).
Source: El Tiempo – National
Date: December 07
Headline: Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada request the implementation of the black line
While the high courts rule on decree 1500 of 2018, one of the last signed by the government of Juan Manuel Santos and with which the ‘black line’ for the protection of the ancestral territory of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was regulated, the indigenous peoples of that region are asking the Duque government to advance its implementation. (…) In June, the indigenous people intensified their requests to the Court, when they asked to annul all mining titles already granted, suspend the processing of ongoing applications, and not grant additional titles. The black line decree also faces a nullity lawsuit in the Council of State, filed by lawyer Yefferson Mauricio Dueñas, with co-adjudicators including, among others, the president of Andi, Bruce Mac Master, Asocapitales, and the Colombian Petroleum Association. Responded in: eltiempo.com (December 06)
Source: paisminero.com – National
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: December 06
Headline: Equity without resources is unfeasible
Achieving greater social equity is a goal for every developing country. There are two ways to achieve it: through a widespread improvement in access to goods and services - such as education and health - or the expansion of opportunities linked to individual merit. (…) And specifically, they also oppose exploring new deposits and researching new techniques that would allow the country to develop its full potential before it is too late, in addition to generating more wealth and employment. In terms of resource generation, the most recent economic report from the Colombian Petroleum Association, ACP, indicates, for example, that companies engaged in the exploration and production of oil and gas contributed $15.9 trillion to the country in 2018 in terms of income tax (collected in 2019), royalties, contractual economic rights, and other taxes.
Hydrocarbons Sector
Source: El Tiempo
Date: December 09
Headline: The mission of wise men
After ten months of work, the International Mission of Wise Men 2019 delivered its recommendations to the President last week. Forty-six experts in diverse areas participated in eight broad thematic focuses, ranging from basic and space sciences to creative industries and art. (…) The president of Ecopetrol, in his speech, offered thirty million dollars to start the task. He ended the meeting with the basic scientists talking about productivity and the entrepreneurs presenting on the importance of basic sciences for innovation. It is also important to highlight President Iván Duque's commitments in his speech: he spoke of an increase in state funding for science and a search for mechanisms that stimulate private investment.
Source: El Espectador
Date: December 09
Headline: Why talk about just transitions? By: Elisa Arond
Last week, COP25 began, an event that will take place until December 13 and brings together governments, environmentalists, activists, and opinion leaders to think about measures to face the impacts of climate change. Planning for just transitions in countries and regions whose economies depend on the production of oil, coal, and gas, such as Colombia, will be key for this summit; even more so considering the political and social context of the region and other countries around the world. (…) And we are not talking about a distant future. Recently, the management of Cerrejón, one of the largest coal mines in the world, located in La Guajira, announced that they had to reduce their production by 18% due to decreased demand, consequent low prices, and health risks to nearby communities due to air quality given droughts attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. This implies a cut in the mine's workforce, which is no small matter as it is the largest employer in the department.
Source: La República
Date: December 09
Headline: The drilling of wells in developing fields decreased by 15% as of September
The most recent report from Campetrol details that La Cira – Infantas, Rubiales, and Quifa are the fields where the most wells have been drilled. While hydrocarbon production continues to show positive figures this year, the balance in well drilling is not encouraging. This can be seen in the latest ‘Energy Dimension’ report from Campetrol, which states that by the third quarter of the year there was a 15% drop in the start of well drilling in developing fields after reaching a total of 425. (…) this translates to a 60% fulfillment of the goal that the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) initially set, which estimated that there would be 55 new exploratory wells this year. (…) La Cira – Infantas and Rubiales were the fields where the most wells were drilled in the first nine months of the year with 178 and 153, respectively. According to this report, these fields are expected to drive gas and oil production for the remainder of the year.
Source: La República
Date: December 09
Headline: «With the right regulation, fracking is a safe technique»
In Melbourne, while the International Mining and Resources Conference (Imarc) was taking place at the convention center, there were dozens of protesters outside protesting against mining. Paul Heithersay, executive director of the Department of Energy and Mines of the South Australian government, and Alexandra Blood, director of the minerals sub-department of that institution, explained the importance of mining activity for the country and talked about Australia's experience with fracking and their vision for the future of the sector. (…) Do they use fracking in Australia? What has their experience been? Yes, we do use it, although we also have a huge discussion, even though we have been carrying out the technique safely for 50 years in some parts of the country.
Source: La República
Date: December 09
Headline: Year summary – January. The sale of 8.5% of Ecopetrol would go well
The possible alienation of 8.51% of Ecopetrol's shares was one of the cards that the National Government was said to put on the table to guarantee the country's fiscal stability. This decision, which should go to ministerial consideration and presidential approval, could not only be very beneficial for the Nation but also for the market. Selling this percentage of shares would add to another of the milestones of the oil company. In the possible scenario that it is achieved, Ecopetrol would continue with 80.1% of shareholding, since, among other things, the Nation currently has a participation of 88.49%, after two processes of alienation of shares (2007 and 2011) where it offered 11.51% of its titles.
Source: La República
Date: December 09
Headline: The market expects the dollar to drop from 1,400.
Despite the continuation of the national strike, which has lasted 19 days, last week the Colombian peso recovered against the dollar thanks, especially, to the peaceful development of the protests. (…) In addition to the local situation, Esparza argued that the alleged improvement in conversations between the United States and China, and the possible first-phase trade agreement before the end of 2019, strengthened the peso. “Anonymous reports indicate that a trade agreement is close and could arrive before December 15,” he said. Finally, María Fernanda Pulido, equity analyst at Casa de Bolsa, explained that the cut of 500,000 barrels of oil per day in the production of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) “will continue an upward trend that would place WTI crude at US$60.69,” which would also stabilize or lower the dollar.
Source: Portafolio
Date: December 09
Headline: India and Colombia have a pending dialogue. By: Soraya Caro Vargas
2019 ends and we have celebrated 60 years of relations with India, the second industrial power in Asia, the third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power, the third largest ecosystem on earth for innovation and the consolidation of world-class startups. (…) After a favorable cycle in bilateral relations, Colombia has with India a precarious trade balance worth just over US$2 million as of 2018, in which our exports continue to concentrate on oil, gold, coal, some polymers in primary forms, scrap, and some woods. In contrast, our market receives goods and services with higher added value: motorcycles, medicines, cotton threads, parts for tractors and vehicles, fabrics or KPO services, and this generates fear in some of our segments.
Source: Portafolio
Date: December 09
Headline: Finances are heading towards a ‘green’ future.’
A sustainable investment finances an environmentally friendly project or helps in its ecological transition, and this is where the appetite of the financial world is concentrated, as the sector represents, according to estimates, a third of global assets and faces the challenge of demonstrating its real impact. (…) Is it sustainable to invest in oil companies? For some, no, but for others, yes, as they estimate that their transition is necessary. For example, a «green» bond issuance launched by Repsol sparked a debate in the financial sector in 2017. And in the case of nuclear energy? The French government advocated for it to be integrated into the «eco-label,» aimed at products, and provoked protests from Greenpeace. Green debt – bonds issued to finance ecological projects that require an evaluation – occupies a prominent place.
Source: Portafolio
Date: December 09
Headline: More investment from Frontera Energy.
The tasks on this front will focus on the Lower Magdalena Valley and the Quifa, Sabanero, and Mapache fields. The oil company Frontera Energy will go all in on its hydrocarbon operation scheduled to be developed for the country in 2020. This is revealed by the latest projection figures drawn up by the Canadian multinational based in Toronto, where the bet for its task in Colombia will be to focus its efforts on exploration. According to the 2020 Capital Plan, which Frontera Energy's management presented to its investors, and to which Portafolio had access, although the company maintained the same investment item for next year as in 2019 (Colombia: US$250 million), the amount allocated for exploration increases by 311%.
Source: Portafolio
Date: December 09
Headline: Cúcuta, with the highest natural gas rate in Colombia.
In addition to the long list of problems that Cúcuta suffers due to the economic crisis in Venezuela, one more is added, which affects all strata equally. It is the natural gas rate that residents who consume this fuel in the capital of Norte de Santander pay. And the reason is that it can easily be up to 50% above the national average. (…) For the gas sector of the country, another factor contributing to the increase in the natural gas rate in Cúcuta is that there are no fields near the city for hydrocarbon production as these are located on the Caribbean coast, Casanare, and the middle and lower Magdalena valleys. (…) – There are several natural gas production fields in the national territory, with the Guajira and Eastern Llanos basins generating the highest production of the fuel.
Source: Portafolio
Date: December 09
Headline: Main crude oil producers in the world
Graph. OPEC+ Group* Countries subject to the 2016 production limit agreement to sustain the price of the barrel. •Mexico, Kazakhstan, Oman, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, South Sudan, Brunei, includes crude oil, shale oil condensates. Strong BP.
Source: El Nuevo Siglo
Date: December 09
Headline: They predict that the dollar price could close the year at $3.380
Taking into account the variables of the exchange market, several analysts believe that the dollar price could end the year at $3.380 with a peso devaluation close to 8%. (…) “Global uncertainty remains. The world is swaying with the trade tensions between China and the United States, combined with an oversupply of oil globally, along with a high trade deficit and widespread social and political unrest (especially in Latin America) that has affected us,” comments the analyst. (…) “We lowered our initial estimate from 3.5% to 3.3% because there will be less contribution to household consumption growth and a reduction in the dynamics of gross capital formation (greater fear of starting new businesses) in the face of a more challenging global outlook: an oil price we estimate at US$50 in its WTI reference,” comments the specialist.
Source: La Crónica del Quindío
Date: December 09
Headline: Approving lies. By: William García Rodríguez
The government has the right to try to neutralize social mobilizations, especially if these promise to last over time and/or aim to be gigantic, as were those of 21N and 4D. (…) The tax concessions to large companies, the labor flexibility bill, and the pension reform are just three of the central issues that the mobilized have called Duque's “package.” Environmental issues, the use of fracking, glyphosate spraying, the health system crisis, unmet commitments to students, indigenous people, Afro-Colombians, and a central issue, the comprehensive implementation of the Havana agreements, remain to be mentioned. What the government and its allies pointed out as lies to call for the strike turned out to be true, and it became clear who was lying.
Source: Semana
Date: December 08
Headline: The future does not evaporate
Colombia has a huge concern: despite the great gas potential of the country, today the self-sufficiency of natural gas lasts for less than ten years. The challenge is to increase the exploration of this fossil fuel, which in the rest of the world is becoming the fuel of the energy transition that the Nation cannot be indifferent to. (…) It has become the replacement for firewood, which for many generations accompanied households in every corner of the territory and has large reservoirs such as the Ballena fields in La Guajira, and Cusiana and Cupiagua in Casanare. (…) The president of the National Hydrocarbons Agency, Luis Miguel Morelli, is optimistic and believes that 2020 will be a great year for this fuel, while he predicts success for the offshore projects that the Government has signed.
Source: Semana
Date: December 08
Headline: The foundation of modernity
This is how electricity is defined by Federico, General Manager of AES Colombia - SEMANA spoke with him about the multinational's bets to include the country in the process of transforming the global energy matrix. (…) In Colombia, we have two initial projects. In October, we completed the construction of the Castilla Solar Park in Meta. This system, which generates 21 megawatts (enough to supply people), will provide clean energy for the next 15 years to the Castilla field, the second largest oil production field of Ecopetrol.
Regional News
Source: violetastereo.com
Date: December 08
Headline: First Lady of the Department of Casanare: Marisela Duarte reviews her management
During the four years of government, First Lady Marisela Duarte Rodríguez provided support to seniors over 60 years old, addressed the issue of gender violence, and also implemented and strengthened 135 Productive Units for young people, as well as for children and disability issues. These activities were implemented in the 19 municipalities of the department, where the necessary assistance was provided to the 19,487 seniors over 60 years old who had Sisben I and II, where through the complementary and subsidiary program they were attended to, although the total is 27,109 seniors, of which 13,427 are women and 13,682 are men; not everyone could be attended to, lamented the First Lady.
Source: La República
Date: December 07
Headline: Since June, $2.5 billion has been lost due to the closure on the Vía al Llano
Yesterday, the Vía al Llano, the corridor that connects the capital of the country with Villavicencio, was reopened after almost six months of closure, a situation that generated accumulated losses of $2.5 billion according to the Meta and Eastern Plains section of the National Federation of Merchants (Fenalco). (…) Transportation is another sector that felt the impact of the closure on the road the most. According to the Colombian Federation of Cargo Transporters (Colfecar), under normal conditions, 1,110 cargo vehicles transit this route, and due to the closure and the need to take alternate routes, additional costs of $1.007 million per day were generated due to the increase in fuel, lubricants, tires, and maintenance consumption.
Source: Caracol Radio
Date: December 07
Source: Extra Casanare
Date: December 06
Headline: Prosecutor's Office with actions in Strike
John Encinales, sectional director of the prosecutor's office in Casanare, reported that last Wednesday more than 400 people gathered in the INTRA park of Yopal and marched to the central park. Officials were also attentive to actions in Tauramena and Monterrey where workers from an oil company were present in a strike. The officials were vigilant for any irregularity.
Source: Extra Casanare
Date: December 06
Headline: Justice for Casanare. By Carlos Zambrano
After the recent announcements where the proposal by the senator from Casanare, César Ortiz Zorro, was approved with 73 votes in favor, which will return the royalties from the exploration, exploitation, and transportation of non-renewable natural resources, in this case, the precious black gold, better known as oil, to the people through legitimate means. All Casanare residents are happy with the recent measure, which, although true, is well managed by the governments that will soon take office.
Source: RCN Radio Villavicencio
Date: December 06
Source: Caracol TV
Date: December 06
Headline: In Hato Corozal Casanare, they report that the drought is intensifying, causing damage.
Source: Cable Noticias.
Date: December 06
Headline: The FAC of Casanare released 30 Llanero Caimans in the El Tuparro Park.
Source: noticierodelllano.com
Date: December 06
Headline: Oil workers continue on strike.
The drills have stopped, and the automotive contractors have also stopped at all crude extraction wells. So far, the demand has been peaceful, and they seek a negotiation table with Ecopetrol that allows them to resolve the discontent regarding the integrity of the contracts and others. They protest against the negligence and indifference that workers have felt from the oil industry, emphasized the union leader.
Source: laschivasdelllano.com
Date: December 06
Headline: The Casanare government presents its accountability today virtually for the four-year period 2016-2019.
Starting at 8:00 a.m., the team from the Casanare government will report to the community on the management and results of the works carried out by the current government. Different virtual channels will be available where the results of the works carried out by the government in the 19 municipalities of the department will be announced; the main media through which citizens will be able to learn about the broadcast will be the website www.casanare.gov.co, on Facebook through the Casanare government page, and the radio station Manera Radio 95.3 F.M.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas