Sustainability Facts Awards 2024

Recognition of high-impact programs led by companies in the hydrocarbon sector that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country.

Finalists and winner by category:

Climate change management and decarbonization

Finalists:

1. Energy efficiency of gas turbines – Parex Resources
2. Emission reduction plan – GeoPark
3. Driving energy efficiency and operational excellence for decarbonization – Sierracol Energy

Winner: Emission reduction plan – GeoPark

GeoPark's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions includes short, medium, and long-term goals. In its design, the company took into account international agreements and the Nationally Determined Contributions of the country. The plan includes actions in clean energy, energy efficiency, and methane management.

In 2023, the company achieved a reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions of over 40,000 tons of CO2e compared to the previous year, a reduction in emission intensity of 26% compared to the 2020 baseline, and it remains on track to achieve the goal of reducing emission intensity by 35 – 40% by 2025.

GeoPark launched solar energy projects that allowed for a decrease in non-renewable energy consumption. It conducts various chemistry and temperature tests to reduce energy consumption in Llanos 34, which it hopes to replicate in other fields. It has energy management projects, using ISO 50001-type systems and small consumer monitoring where it measures and monitors small office consumption. Among many other factors aimed at decarbonization.

Protection of biodiversity

Finalists:

1. Connecting footprints – Frontera Energy
2. Wildlife – Ecopetrol
3. Let's protect natural wealth – Hocol S.A.

Winner: Wildlife – Ecopetrol

The Wildlife project is a collaboration between WCS, Fondo Acción, and Ecopetrol, which for over 10 years has worked on biodiversity conservation and strengthening livelihoods in Colombia; implemented in the eastern plains, the Magdalena Medio, and the Andean Amazon foothills. Wildlife focuses on 15 threatened species and has developed conservation and ecological restoration strategies tailored to each region, promoting sustainable practices that benefit both biodiversity and local communities. The project's actions contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: poverty reduction, decent work, and climate action, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to conservation and sustainable development.

Human rights:

Finalists:

1. Sowing talent – Summum Projects
2. Culture focused on respect and guarantee of human rights – Canacol Energy
3. Culture of peace, depolarizing school conflicts – Gases del Llano

Winner: Culture focused on respect and guarantee of human rights – Canacol Energy

Since 2014, Canacol Energy has been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact and supports the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its approach seeks to anticipate and prevent direct and indirect impacts on human rights; for this, the company follows the UN's guiding principles on business and human rights.

Its Human Rights Policy guides its decisions, responsible business management, and its relationships with people and the environment.

The board of directors and senior management of the company established guidelines to implement policies in its activities, projects, and operations; and through manuals and training, they ensure compliance with their commitments to respect and promote human rights.

Gender equity:

Finalists:

1. Women's Leadership School – TGI S.A.
2. Gender equity project and protection and equality of rights in favor of women – Gases de Occidente
3. A culture focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion – Canacol Energy

Winner: Women's Leadership School – TGI S.A.

The Women's Leadership School ‘She is Energy’ aims to train women to be agents of change, enhancing their skills to transform the organization, the territory, and the business, and contributing to TGI being a diverse and inclusive company. This initiative is developed through three lines of action: 1) Women of today: development of female leadership for participation in boards of directors and business transformation. 2) Women create: promotion of entrepreneurship and skills through TGI volunteering in areas of influence. 3) Woman for the future: dual technical training for women in operational areas.

In 2023, it achieved significant advances, including the promotion of women's economic autonomy in six departments of the country, the increase of women's participation in public affairs, and the reduction of equity gaps in the male-dominated oil & gas sector. Internally, it trained and prepared women to lead change within the organization. Externally, it promoted access to paid employment and improved productive capacities of women, among other results.

Alliances for sustainable development:

Finalists:

1. Reefs of Unity – Chevron Petroleum Company
2. Sustainable territorial transformation – GeoPark
3. A sweet alliance for Arauca – Sierracol Energy

Winner: Reefs of Unity – Chevron Petroleum Company

Reefs of Unity is the second stage of a Chevron initiative for comprehensive support for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs in Colombia.

In 2023, it primarily worked on monitoring over 5,400m2 of reefs in Bolívar, Providencia, Sucre, and Magdalena to determine the health status of these ecosystems and promote their care through the involvement of various social actors. The initiative allowed for alerts to be issued for coral bleaching in two regions of the country and raised awareness among decision-makers and public policy formulators. Additionally, it conducted training for schools in the Archipelago of San Andrés and Providencia.

Implementation of circular models:

Finalists:

1. Water utilization system – Frontera Energy
2. Strategic circular economy plan – GeoPark
3. Pipes transformed into opportunities – Sierracol Energy

Winner: Strategic circular economy plan – GeoPark

GeoPark develops a Strategic Plan for Circular Economy to optimize resource consumption, maintain product value, and minimize waste in its operations. It conducted a corporate diagnosis to map materials and detect viable initiatives. The strategy is based on three circularity models: waste management, water management, and GHG utilization, aligned with SDGs 6 and 12. The three pillars of the strategy are redesigning products and processes, reducing waste, and reusing products.

The company implements actions in three lines: sustainable design, reduction of raw materials, and reuse of equipment and waste. It has managed to identify circularity opportunities in production, drilling, and well life cycle, highlighting electricity generation, water purification, and reuse of ferrous materials.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for your commitment to sustainable development!