ACP as a source of information
Source: Portafolio – National
Date: May 04
Headline: Local demand for fuels has fallen 60%
The health emergency due to covid-19 has practically put the retail distribution business at gas stations (EDS) in the country on the ropes. The reason is that in the six weeks of mandatory preventive isolation, the demand for gasoline and diesel in the national territory has barely been a little over 30%. Records from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) indicate that, as of April 29, the average daily demand for fuels decreased by 41 % for regular motor gasoline and by 30% for diesel. (…) The figures from the mining and energy portfolio align with those recorded by the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), which indicate that the decrease in liquid fuel consumption reached an average reduction in sales of 60%, and in the aviation segment, the drop is 95%. It was reported in: portafolio.co (May 03), realidad-armenia.co (May 04), buenaventuraenlinea.com (May 04).
Source: El Espectador – National
Date: May 03
Headline: Oil companies, in survival mode
The crisis due to the oil price war and confinement measures due to COVID-19 will force companies to implement strong shock measures that include, among other decisions, the closure of at least 590 wells and 30 fields. The black hole for the oil industry will begin to become more evident starting in the second quarter of 2020 (…) A Brent price below a range between US$40 and US$45 per barrel during this year puts at risk the production of about 35,000 barrels per day. If production were to fall to these levels starting in April, and considering that in March a cut of 11,000 barrels per day was already reported, the average production for 2020 would be 850,000 barrels per day, according to analysis by the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP). (…) Companies like Gran Tierra Energy, Chevron, Frontera Energy, Chevron, Geopark Colombia, Occidental de Colombia, Mansarovar Energy, Parex Resources, Cepsa Colombia, Perenco, O NGC Videsh, and Vetra, among others, with significant presence in hydrocarbon production, have shown intentions to make drastic cuts to their budgets. Until last year, the contractual landscape in the oil sector showed 65 contracts signed by Ecopetrol: 50 for exploration and production, 14 signed by Hocol, and one with Equion. It was reported in:elespectador.com (May 02).
Source: El País – Regional
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: May 03
Headline: The law for others
Claudia López is not the first mayor to violate the health measures specific to the quarantine. She is also not the only local leader who has been investigated by the Prosecutor's Office. A reason to set aside the Manichean argument that this is a political persecution or that Prosecutor Barbosa is doing a favor for the President. But if this were not enough, let’s shake our memory and remember what the law says. On March 22, the National Government issued decree 457 which establishes mandatory isolation. Article 3 numeral 2 of the same, exempts the acquisition of essential goods such as food and beverages, among others, from the restriction. It was replicated in: elpais.com.co (May 03).
Source: elespectador.com – National
Date: May 03
Headline: Oil and mining companies finance the Public Force and the Prosecutor's Office
Today, on World Press Freedom Day, we present the investigation carried out by Rutas del Conflicto and the League Against Silence, for which the intelligence of the National Army began surveillance against its authors and included them in the «Secret Files.» In September 2018, in Castilla la Nueva, Meta, environmental leader Gustavo Carrión was apprehended by the Police and accused of multiple crimes, including terrorism. Carrión had protested alongside his community against the alleged contamination of water in the area caused by Ecopetrol. (…) The hydrocarbon sector also views the agreements positively. In 2013, Alejandro Martínez, from the Colombian Petroleum Association, stated that “the oil sector looked with great satisfaction at these agreements because better conditions of public order and security for the industry are being reached, which the country currently has to accelerate its economic development.”.
Source: elcolombiano.com – Regional
Date: May 02
Headline: With the pandemic, where does fracking stand?
How much oil and gas is needed in a world in lockdown? How much fuel will countries that reactivate their economies but with restrictions of up to 35% in public transport capacity demand? It seems not much. (…) Last Wednesday, Felipe Bayón, president of Ecopetrol, told the Fifth Commission of the House of Representatives that the uncertainty for the sector is tremendously large and the fact that there is a considerable drop in demand for both gas and oil is concerning, which paints a different market for Ecopetrol and for companies in the segment. (…) Still, fracking remains a priority for the government of Iván Duque. The Ministry of Mines and Energy told EL COLOMBIANO that the pilot plans would not be affected by the situation. (…) This is echoed by Francisco Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), who recalled that the material will return to high prices and demand levels when the economy consolidates. This, added to the fact that the pilots, which already have the approval of the Council of State, are intended for an exploratory phase.
Source: petroguia.com – National
Date: May 02
Headline: ACP requests the Duque government to intervene in crude transport tariffs by pipelines
The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), representing private hydrocarbon-producing companies, issued a statement in response to the announcement made by the company Cenit, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, which claims that “relief of up to 50% in transport tariffs by pipelines” has been achieved. (…) The ACP also refers to the offer made by Ocensa, a subsidiary of Cenit, which is in charge of the pipeline that transports the largest volume of oil in the country, which accepted a reduction of 0.6%, implying a decrease in the tariff from 7.75 to 7.70 dollars per barrel, a reduction that contrasts with a drop of over 70% in the price of crude oil.
Source: portafolio.co – National
Date: April 30
Headline: ‘Relief in crude transport tariffs does not represent a benefit’
ACP stated that Cenit's announcement only increases costs in the long term. The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) referred to the relief of up to 50% in transport tariffs by pipelines for crude producers, announced by Cenit and its subsidiaries on Wednesday afternoon, and pointed out that this decision in the long term only increases costs. In a six-point statement, the ACP indicated that the proposal from the transporters does not reduce tariffs. (…) In any case, it said that considering that crude transport tariffs by pipeline weigh around 45% in operating costs, what the industry requires and has requested is a reduction of 60% when the Brent reference price is below 45 dollars per barrel. (…) «The ACP has requested the Ministry of Mines and Energy to, using its powers provided by the Petroleum Code, intervene in the transport tariffs by pipelines, issuing a resolution that restores an economic balance in the hydrocarbon sector during this period of low prices,» it emphasized.
Source: dinero.com – National
Date: April 30
Headline: The ACP asked the Ministry of Mines to intervene in crude transport rates
Through a statement, the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) made known the reasons why the relief offered by Cenit does not represent real help for the industry. In recent hours, Cenit, the company responsible for operating the country's most important pipelines, announced relief of up to 50% in pipeline transport rates for oil producers, considering the difficult moment that oil companies in the country are going through due to the collapse in crude prices. (…) Finally, they asked the Ministry of Mines to intervene in pipeline transport rates using its powers endorsed in the Petroleum Code to truly alleviate the burdens of the industry in this difficult time.
GREMIO
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: ISA and Ecopetrol, among the companies providing transport services for their employees
One of the main challenges presented by the gradual reactivation of the different sectors of the economy is the latent risk of contagion in mass public transport systems. (…) Companies that already had a route scheme implemented for their employees, such as Alquería, Ecopetrol, and Tecnoglass, increased the number of buses to ensure the social distancing recommended by health authorities to prevent the spread of covid-19. (…) Felipe Bayón, President of Ecopetrol «Our priority at this moment is to protect people's lives, which is why we are following the guidelines and have consulted experts from the National Institute of Health.».
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: Scotiabank participated in Ecopetrol's issuance
In the recent operation of issuance and international placement of Ecopetrol bonds, amounting to US$2.000 million for a term of 10 years, Scotiabank Colpatria, led by Jaime Upegui, disbursed US$430 million in April 2020, as part of a committed credit line in which the Canadian bank acts as an agent for US$665 million, maturing in 2023.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: May 04
Headline: Tax collection overview in Colombia
This year, approximately 10 trillion pesos less in taxes will be collected in the country, according to estimates made by the Ministry of Finance in its presentations before the various congressional committees. This figure is approximately 6 % of the more than 157.36 trillion pesos collected last year. (…) Although both President Iván Duque and Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla have stated that it is not the time to think or talk about a possible tax reform, the current scenario does raise questions about how many taxes are collected and where they come from, especially when the coffers of the Colombian treasury will likely not have results from Ecopetrol like last year's, due to Brent oil prices throughout the year.
Source: La Opinión
Date: May 04
Headline: Lane closure
Today, the road leading to Éxito de San Mateo in the Diagonal Santander-San Mateo roundabout direction will be closed for maintenance. Alternate routes are recommended, such as: the San Mateo bridge-International Highway-Ecopetrol detour.
Source: El Pilón
Date: May 04
Headline: Mayor of El Copey holds Ecopetrol and Transelca responsible for possible cases of covid-19
Arguing the violation of safety protocols by workers of ISA Transelca and the Colombian Petroleum Company, Ecopetrol, the mayor of El Copey, Francisco Meza Altamar, stated that contractors and plant employees of these companies do not take into account the prevention measures based on the different decrees issued by the administration, disregarding the ‘Pico y Cédula’ and ‘Pico y Placa’ municipal regulations. (…) The most recent citation was issued to an engineer from Ecopetrol. On the other hand, he referred to the fact that Ecopetrol has already been involved in covid-19 cases with the death of an employee in Barrancabermeja, Santander, on April 8, and that according to the company itself, it was due to complications arising from the virus that he did not contract in that municipality. Likewise, in Ciénaga, Magdalena, the first death of a covid-19 patient has already been reported.
Source: laguajirahoy.com
Date: May 04
Headline: Chevron leaves without being at peace and safe. By Manuel Sierra Deluque
Today Chevron, after 46 years, leaves La Guajira without being at peace and safe with the municipality of Manaure. Gas has been a blessing for the department and especially for Manaure, since, since the end of the last century, certain events have occurred that need to be recapitulated in order to understand our current circumstance and take advantage of this natural benefit to address the crisis we have today. (…) Reviewing the above, the treasury secretary of the municipality of Manaure in February 2019 summoned Ecopetrol and Chevron to pay the ICA, and again in April of this year, they were summoned for the same reasons. In short, it is absurd that Ecopetrol-Hocol began operations on May 1, due to the X acquisition of 43 % of Chevron's participation in the Guajira Association signed in 1974, while Ecopetrol and Chevron are in arrears with the payment of the ICA to the municipality of Manaure.
Source: laguajirahoy.com
Date: May 04
Headline: The Chevron Hocol turnover in La Guajira. By Amylkar Acosta Medina
On May 3, 1974, the Association contract, the first of its kind, was signed between Ecopetrol and Texas Petroleum Company for the exploration and exploitation of natural gas in La Guajira. The interest in natural gas was awakened due to the energy crisis caused by the oil embargo by OPEC on the countries allied with Israel, following the Yom Kippur war in October 1973. Until then, gas had been considered a nuisance in the oil industry, a ‘burden’; it was undervalued, burned in the torches of the oil fields in operation. (…) Now, thanks to a negotiation between Ecopetrol and Chevron Texaco Petroleum Company, its corporate name since June 4, 2003, its subsidiary Hocol acquired the 43% share of the partner, assuming the operation of the fields. As Hocol's CEO Rafael Guzmán has said, “we are committed to continuing to generate value for the country and the environments in which we operate, as well as contributing to the supply of gas.”.
Source: periodicodelmeta.com
Date: May 04
Headline: And there was no march
May 1, 2020; I am in Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia, Planet Earth; and like every May 1, surely due to the law of conscience, I woke up very early, ready to march and join that brave group of men and women who every day, but especially on May 1, raise their voices in protest against injustices, social inequality, human rights violations, hunger, poverty, the murder of social leaders, extrajudicial executions (the false positives), exclusion, and that marked indifference of those who run the State towards the enormous problems of the majority of the Colombian population. (…) 7.- • ¡Against Privatizations! (The National Government is considering privatizing very profitable state companies such as ECOPETROL, ISA, CENIT, Regional Electrifiers, and all companies where the State's participation is less than 50%).
Source: Vanguardia Liberal
Date: May 03
Headline: Actions to contain COVID-19 at the refinery do not stop
Strict protocols inside the Barrancabermeja refinery are being followed to contain the spread of COVID-19 at all costs, despite the fact that in the city until yesterday there were no active positive cases, given that the people who continued under observation have already recovered. This was confirmed by the Mayor's Office this week, after a verification visit and support for the biosecurity measures that the state oil company implemented for tanker truck drivers entering the point known as ‘El Llenadero’, where they load the fuel. (…) “Ecopetrol has control points before access to the refinery, at the North Gate and at the Llenadero. This pleases us; it is a topic we have been working on hand in hand with the oil company, which has been very willing to comply with all the guidelines that have been issued by the National Government regarding the issue,” said the official.
Topics
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: Measures of the ANH in response to the drop in oil prices. By: José Luis Palacios Verswyvel
Agreement 02 of 2020 published by the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) adopts measures aimed at generating contractual relief for the hydrocarbon industry in Colombia, resulting from the sharp drop in international oil prices, compounded by the current health emergency presented in the country due to covid-19. For this reason, it was necessary to adopt measures that allow (I) the extension of contractual terms and deadlines and (II) the reduction of the amount of compliance guarantees. (…) We view these measures positively and anticipate that in the coming days several requests for extensions of deadlines and/or reductions of guarantees will be submitted by various operators of exploration and production contracts for hydrocarbons in the country.
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: «We must honor the principle of sustainable development»
In light of the potential health emergency in the country declared by the National Government, a series of strategies have been generated for different aspects of the economic, social, and health spheres; however, there is one aspect that has not been discussed much and entails a series of challenges, which is the environmental issue. In an interview with AL, José Vicente Zapata, partner at Holland & Knight, who has more than 25 years of experience in the natural resources sector, spoke about the major challenges in environmental projects. (…) The Anla, for example, has not suspended deadlines for permitting procedures or for sanctioning processes, among other actions. However, it has clarified that the different stages of these processes will be carried out as long as there is a virtual mechanism to complete them. (…) Before the pandemic, there was talk of developing pilot tests for fracking in the country. What do you think about this? The spread of covid-19 and hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs are two different issues.
Source: El Heraldo
Date: May 04
Headline: Oil production drops 2.11% in the first quarter
The Ministry of Mines and Energy stated that 873 thousand barrels per day were produced. In the same period last year, 892,103 barrels per day were reached.
Source: El Espectador
Date: May 03
Headline: The upcoming energy revolution requires a leader. By: Mauricio Botero Caicedo
Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels each year, according to a recent study, causes 4.5 million premature deaths worldwide (12,000 per day). Mortality from fossil fuels is nearly double the deaths caused by the current pandemic. Abandoning our unhealthy dependence on the use of these fuels, from a technical standpoint, has some obstacles that can be overcome in less than 15 years. The problem will be the political barriers. Contrary to recent statements from the Ministry of Mines, fracking is not revolutionary. What is truly revolutionary is building a completely clean and renewable electricity generation matrix. We have made some progress: Colombia since 2018 made an important leap that will allow it to increase its installed capacity in non-conventional renewable energy sources such as solar and wind by 50 times, going from less than 50 megawatts to 2,500 megawatts in 2022.
Institutional
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: Measures of the ANH in response to the drop in oil prices. By: José Luis Palacios Verswyvel
Agreement 02 of 2020 published by the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) adopts measures aimed at generating contractual relief for the hydrocarbon industry in Colombia, resulting from the sharp drop in international oil prices, compounded by the current health emergency presented in the country due to covid-19. For this reason, it was necessary to adopt measures that allow (I) the extension of contractual terms and deadlines and (II) the reduction of the amount of compliance guarantees. (…) We view these measures positively and anticipate that in the coming days several requests for extensions of deadlines and/or reductions of guarantees will be submitted by various operators of exploration and production contracts for hydrocarbons in the country.
Source: La República
Date: May 04
Headline: «We must honor the principle of sustainable development»
In light of the potential health emergency in the country declared by the National Government, a series of strategies have been generated for different aspects of the economic, social, and health spheres; however, there is one aspect that has not been discussed much and entails a series of challenges, which is the environmental issue. In an interview with AL, José Vicente Zapata, partner at Holland & Knight, who has more than 25 years of experience in the natural resources sector, spoke about the major challenges in environmental projects. (…) The Anla, for example, has not suspended deadlines for permitting procedures or for sanctioning processes, among other actions. However, it has clarified that the different stages of these processes will be carried out as long as there is a virtual mechanism to complete them. (…) Before the pandemic, there was talk of developing pilot tests for fracking in the country. What do you think about this? The spread of covid-19 and hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs are two different issues.
Source: El Heraldo
Date: May 04
Headline: Oil production drops 2.11% in the first quarter
The Ministry of Mines and Energy stated that 873 thousand barrels per day were produced. In the same period last year, 892,103 barrels per day were reached.
Source: El Espectador
Date: May 03
Headline: The upcoming energy revolution requires a leader. By: Mauricio Botero Caicedo
Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels each year, according to a recent study, causes 4.5 million premature deaths worldwide (12,000 per day). Mortality from fossil fuels is nearly double the deaths caused by the current pandemic. Abandoning our unhealthy dependence on the use of these fuels, from a technical standpoint, has some obstacles that can be overcome in less than 15 years. The problem will be the political barriers. Contrary to recent statements from the Ministry of Mines, fracking is not revolutionary. What is truly revolutionary is building a completely clean and renewable electricity generation matrix. We have made some progress: Colombia since 2018 made an important leap that will allow it to increase its installed capacity in non-conventional renewable energy sources such as solar and wind by 50 times, going from less than 50 megawatts to 2,500 megawatts in 2022.
Source: El Tiempo
Date: May 01
Headline: Strong drop of 18% in gas reserves in 2019
Due to the reduction in exploration activities in recent years (contracts were only signed again in 2019 after four years), the country's crude oil and gas reserves performed regularly in 2019, according to data from the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), which was disclosed this Thursday by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. According to ANH statistics, the country lost 1.8 years in gas self-sufficiency, decreasing from 9.8 to 8 years, after, at the consumption rate of 2019 and without new additions, the reserves of this resource decreased from 3.8 to 3.1 trillion cubic feet.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas