ACP as a source of information
Source: El Tiempo – National
Date: September 11
Headline: For now, there will be no ‘fracking’ tests’
A new presentation will have to be drafted and approved by the magistrates of the Council of State, who on Tuesday decided to uphold the suspension of the two administrative acts with which the Government regulated the use of fracking in the country. The magistrates of the third section of the high court rejected the presentation that proposed to give the green light to the practice of fracking (a technique that allows the extraction of hydrocarbons using large amounts of water and chemical additives), while it is determined whether its regulation is legal or not. (…) The statement from the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) warns that “although the decision of the high court does not imply that fracking has been banned in Colombia, it is inevitable that this decision will affect investor confidence and legal security, putting at risk the fiscal and energy sustainability of Colombia.” Responded in: eltiempo.com (September 11)
Source: Portafolio – National
Date: September 11
Headline: Ecopetrol started ‘fracking’ in the U.S. and Colombia is undecided
While the Council of State continues to delay the development of Unconventional Resources (YNC) through fracking in the country, Ecopetrol began drilling the first well using this technique in the U.S. (…) “Recently we announced to the country a strategic alliance with Occidental Petroleum Company (Oxy) for the development of YNC in the Permian Basin, in the state of Texas (U.S.). The first equipment has already been mobilized, with which we are starting this operation,” explained Felipe Bayón, president of Ecopetrol, hours before the Council of State's ruling was known. (…) For his part, Francisco José Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), indicated that “the decision does not take into account the recommendations issued by the Expert Commission to advance with the Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects (PPII) that will provide us with complete and transparent information and will contribute the technical and environmental elements to determine any regulatory adjustments in the future, if necessary.” Responded in: Portafolio.co (September 11).
Source: El Nuevo Siglo – National
Date: September 11
Headline: C. de Estado maintains fracking suspension
The Third Section of the Council of State decided to maintain the suspension of fracking practice. In yesterday's session, the proposal to give the activity the green light was defeated while it is determined whether its regulation is legal or not. (…) The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) stated regarding the decision that “we regret the outcome of the ruling. We believe that the decision does not take into account the recommendations issued by the Expert Commission to advance with the Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects (PPII) that will provide us with complete and transparent information and will contribute the sufficient technical and environmental elements to determine any regulatory adjustments in the future, if necessary.” Responded in: elnuevosiglo.com.co (September 11).
Source: El Heraldo – Regional
Date: September 11
Headline: Council of State maintains fracking suspension
The Council of State decided to keep the precautionary measures regarding the regulation of hydraulic fracturing in effect. The Full Chamber of the Third Section of the Council of State maintained the precautionary measures that suspend the regulations for the application of fracking in Colombia by not giving a favorable opinion to the proposal that sought to give the green light to the exercise of the technique, while it is determined whether its regulation is legal or not (…) For its part, the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) indicated in a statement that the decision does not take into account the recommendations issued by the Expert Commission to advance with the Comprehensive Research Pilot Projects, which “will provide complete and transparent information and will contribute the sufficient technical and environmental elements to determine any regulatory adjustments in the future, if necessary.” Responded in: elheraldo.co (September 11).
Source: La Patria – Regional
Date: September 11
Headline: Fracking remains suspended in Colombia
A proposal that aimed to give the green light to the exercise for oil exploration and exploitation through hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, while it is determined whether its regulation is legal or not, was defeated yesterday before the Full Chamber of the Third Section of the Council of State. (…) On that occasion, the Vice President of Economic and Regulatory Affairs of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), Alexandra Hernández, pointed out that the country must exploit offshore and unconventional deposits, as she described it as a “reality and necessity” to sustain its macroeconomic accounts in the coming years.
Source: Hoy Diario del Magdalena – Regional
Author: José Name Cardozo
Date: September 11
Headline: Fracking with responsibility and oversight
For several years, there has been a discussion in the country about whether or not to use the fracking technique or hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of gas and oil from the subsurface; the two diametrically opposed positions in this discussion have made it a long debate in which the community has been left in the middle and with unfounded fears. (…) Experts estimate that by implementing the fracking technique, hydrocarbon reserves could increase up to five times. According to the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), hydraulic fracturing would represent for Colombia the opportunity to generate fiscal revenues of $1.5 trillion annually in taxes, contractual economic rights, dividends, and royalties.
Source: El Universal – Regional
Date: September 11
Headline: The brake on fracking in the country is maintained.
“This depends on our ability to continue supplying natural gas at competitive prices to 9.5 million homes, businesses, and industries across the country”: Orlando Cabrales Segovia, president of Naturgás. The Council of State upheld the precautionary measure that has halted fracking in Colombia, which is why the environmental licensing processes at the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA) and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) have not progressed. The determination of the high court comes after studying the appeal filed by the Government after the corporation, last November, provisionally suspended the administrative acts through which the criteria for the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in unconventional deposits were established. (…) The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) commented on the issue stating that it respects the decision of the high court, but “we regret the outcome of the ruling.”.
Source: lasillavacia.com
Date: September 10
Headline: The Council of State's «no» to fracking is not definitive.
The Council of State announced yesterday that it maintains the suspension of a resolution and a decree from the Ministry of Mines and Energy that regulate the exploration and production of oil and gas in unconventional deposits, that is, those exploited with fracking. (…) A week later, the Ministry of Mines asked the Council of State to revoke the measure with a resource called an appeal. The Ministry of Finance joined in (which has a stake in this matter because the investment and money that fracking can bring is key for the State's finances), the National Hydrocarbons Agency, which manages oil contracts, and the Colombian Petroleum Association, the union that groups the largest oil companies in the country except Ecopetrol.
Source: miputumayo.com.co
Date: September 10
Headline: ACP comments on the Council of State's decision regarding Fracking.
Statement from the Colombian Petroleum Association regarding the Council of State's decision on the precautionary measures of the technical regulation for fracking in Colombia. Regarding the Council of State's decision that ratifies the precautionary measures concerning the technical standards regulating the implementation of the exploration and production technique for hydrocarbons known as fracking, the Colombian Petroleum Association, ACP, wishes to express to the public: 1. We respect the High Court's decision to maintain the precautionary measures on technical regulation 90341 and 3004 of the Ministry of Mines and Energy; however, we regret the outcome of the ruling.
Source: Cable Noticias – Regional
Date: September 04
Hydrocarbons Sector
Source: El Espectador
Date: September 11
Headline: Council of State maintains the suspension of «Fracking»
The Council of State maintained this Tuesday the provisional suspension for oil exploration and exploitation through hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. With the decision, the high court denied the appeal filed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, which requested that the precautionary measures be lifted and that pilot tests for exploration and exploitation be allowed.
Source: La República
Date: September 11
Headline: Regulation for fracking projects will remain on hold
The Council of State's decision to maintain the precautionary measures affecting the regulation of Unconventional Reservoirs (YNC) continues to hinder the implementation of the first research pilots. With this determination, the high court not only keeps the future of this practice in suspense but also forces the sector to seek other supply alternatives. (…) With this firm decision, nine projects from five companies remain suspended. This is because if the precautionary measures are maintained, the Environmental Licensing Authorities (Anla) and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) will not be able to issue permits or licenses to even develop in the regions. Now the country will have to increase its production with the 16 new contracts signed by the Government in the first half.
Source: La República
Date: September 11
Headline: Bolton and the price of oil
The most shocking news in the world was the dismissal of John Bolton (1948) as security advisor to President Donald Trump (1946), which not only generated noise in the media but also affected oil prices. As soon as the announcement was made, both WTI and Brent references lost more than US$1 per barrel, although they stabilized during the day. (MC)
Source: La República
Date: September 11
Headline: The dollar closed stable at an average price of $3.373.9
The second day of the week continued to register market stability following the new rapprochement between China and the United States to ease the trade war, and with the tense calm in Europe regarding the possibilities for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union in a longer timeframe. (…) Meanwhile, oil prices have recovered with the calm in the trade war, causing the price per barrel of Brent crude to rise 0.34% to US$62.38, its highest value since July 31. At the close of the session, it was reported that U.S. crude inventories fell by 7.2 million barrels in the week to 421.9 million, a figure below analysts' expectations, who had forecasted 2.7 million less.
Source: La República
Date: September 11
Headline: They inaugurate section of the Salgar pipeline
Ecopetrol and Cenit announced the start of operations of the new section of the Salgar-Cartago-Yumbo pipeline, which is located between Chinchiná and Pereira. The project has a length of 55.2 kilometers and passes through the municipalities of Santa Rosa, Dosquebradas, Pereira, Marsella, and Chinchiná. “With this new section, the aim was to move the pipeline away from densely populated areas and develop a safe and reliable operation for transporting fuel to the west of the country,” detailed Ecopetrol. Nearly US$81 million was invested in this project, and 4,600 pipes were used for its construction, each approximately 12 meters long. Construction began in May 2018 and employed 1,300 people, with 61% of local labor participation.
Source: Portafolio
Date: September 11
Headline: In operation, the valve of the Salgar-Cartago-Yumbo pipeline
To further ensure the reliability of liquid fuel supply in the departments of the Coffee Axis and southwestern region of the country, a pipe that will strengthen the supply went into operation in recent hours. The reason is that Ecopetrol and Cenit have given the green light to operations in the new section of the Salgar-Cartago-Yumbo pipeline, which is located between the municipalities of Chinchiná (Caldas) and Pereira (Risaralda). (…) The warning from UPME. If the Nation does not begin to produce hydrocarbons in new fields, even in Unconventional Deposits (YNC), within less than 10 years, it will have no choice but to increase crude imports to supply the refineries.
Source: Portafolio
Date: September 11
Headline: Investors abandon fossil fuel stocks
The number of institutional investors committed to eliminating fossil fuel stocks from their portfolios has increased from 180 in 2014 to over 1,100 currently, as activists increase pressure on companies regarding climate change. (…) There is clear evidence that their efforts are bearing fruit. Royal Dutch Shell rated divestment campaigns as a material risk in its latest annual report. Similarly, BP's CEO, Bob Dudley, stated in 2018 that the efforts of these activists could threaten energy security and the global economy. (…) For example, Norway's sovereign fund of US$1 trillion is fully included in that total, not just the US$7.500 billion that they agreed to divest from oil and gas companies earlier this year, said Yossi Cadan, director of global finance campaigns at 350.org.
Source: Diario del Sur
Date: September 10
Headline: Present incident of contempt before the Council
The Podion Corporation and the Colombia Free of Fracking Alliance presented an incident of contempt in the evidence practice hearing for the lawsuit filed before the Council of State that has suspended fracking projects in the country. They point out that this non-compliance is occurring because the multinational Drummond is exploiting 15 gas wells in coal seams using in its Caporo Norte project of the La Loma block, located between the municipalities of Chiriguaná and La Jagua, a type of unconventional deposit regulated by Decree 3004 of 2013, currently suspended by the Council of State. In this regard, they argue that the ministries of Mines and Energy, Environment, the ANH, and the Anla are disobeying the decision issued by the High Court and “allowing Drummond's projects to continue advancing without the regulatory framework that allows these operations.”.
Source: Blu Radio
Date: September 10
Source: La W Radio
Date: September 10
Source: dataifx.com
Date: September 10
This Tuesday, during her intervention in the political control debate on fracking taking place in the Fifth Commission of the Chamber, the Minister of Mines and Energy, María Fernanda Suárez, stated that there is no study or projection (to 2050) that says the world can live without oil and gas. The minister stated that securing these resources «is not a problem of a country, nor is it a problem of a government, nor is it a problem of a political party, this is a problem of being realistic. Colombia will need oil and gas in 2030, in 2040, and very possibly in 2050, and not because we want it or because we are heartless, it is because technology has not yet found a substitute.».
Source: dataifx.com
Date: September 10
Headline: Ecopetrol has already begun unconventional activity (fracking) in the United States
At the end of July, Ecopetrol announced a strategic alliance with Occidental Petroleum (OXY) for the development of unconventional deposits, commonly known as fracking, in the Midland of the Permian Basin in the state of Texas (USA). This Tuesday, the president of the iguana company, Felipe Bayón, provided details of this project that works in conjunction with the American oil company. We are already starting to mobilize the first equipment, that is, we are starting the operation and I hope to be able to give you some news later. (…) Bayón stated that this year they expect to have production and «add 160 million barrels of crude to the company's books, which is about two-thirds of what we produce in a year. In addition, it will allow us to increase Ecopetrol's reserves in point seven years, which is very good news for the company.» It is important to mention that in this alliance OXY has a 51% and Ecopetrol a 49%.
Source: caracol.com.co
Date: September 10
Headline: Organizations applaud the decision on Fracking in Colombia
The Colombia Free of Fracking Alliance demands that the precautionary measure be monitored. From organizations such as the Colombia Free of Fracking Alliance, the Podion Corporation, the Regional Corporation Yariguíes of the Magdalena Medio; among others, celebrated the decision made this Tuesday by the Council of State, which maintains the suspension of pilot tests for unconventional deposits in the country. (…) These people also request that monitoring be done on oil operations; this following a contempt incident presented just this Monday before the Council of State, because supposedly the National Government, the ANLA, and the ANH are allowing the company Drummond Ltda. to exploit gas through the practice of Fracking in the department of Cesar.
Source: minuto30.com
Date: September 10
Headline: No to fracking! Council of State maintains the suspension of this oil extraction practice
The Council of State determined on the afternoon of this Tuesday, September 10, that the suspension of fracking remains, so this oil practice will continue to be prohibited in the country. It was the full chamber of the third section of the Council of State that had the ‘ball’ on its side, and they had to decide on the future, in the first instance, of nine contracts that were established to carry out exploration in unconventional deposits, and that were suspended before the National Hydrocarbons Agency, following a lawsuit that requested to prohibit this practice. Thus, although there are still resources to be filed, fracking, which was almost ready to be executed in departments such as Antioquia, Cesar, and Santander, in projects of the companies Ecopetrol, ConocoPhillips, Drummond, and Parex Resources, will remain unexecuted.
Regional News
Source: llaneraradio.com
Date: September 10
Headline: Mourning in the El Morro District, for the death of leader Flor Ángela Cruz Ascencio
Following the tragic accident that occurred yesterday Monday morning when an off-road vehicle plunged and fell into the waters of the Cravo Sur River on the Yopal – El Morro District road, where community leader Flor Ángela Cruz Ascencio lost her life and the vehicle's driver, Mr. Omar Vargas González, was injured and transferred to the Orinoquía Hospital, condolences and sorrow in the populated center come from all public sectors and different community boards and social community leaders. A voice of sorrow and sentiment was expressed by Equión Energía Company, lamenting the death of community leader Flor Ángela Cruz Ascencio, former president of the Community Action Board of the El Progreso village in the El Morro district, and sister of the current community president Reynaldo Cruz.
Source: noticierodelllano.com
Date: September 10
Headline: Death threats against USO executives
The Unión Sindical Obrera reported death threats and harassment against its executives in Meta, especially in Puerto Gaitán. In a letter to the Presidency of the Republic and human rights institutions such as the Ombudsman and the Attorney General's Office, they specifically point out cases such as that of the Secretary of Health and Social Security who has reported on several occasions the presence of strange individuals on unlicensed motorcycles who patrol near his residence located in Castilla la Nueva. (…) In Puerto Gaitán, according to reports, on August 31, 2019, a text message was sent to 6 board members, warning of the physical elimination of those identified as part of the guerrilla for belonging to the union.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas