ACP as a source of information
Source: La FM Radio – National
Date: April 20
Source: La FM Radio – National
Date: April 20
Source: El País – Regional
Author: Francisco José Lloreda Mera
Date: April 19
Headline: Thank you!
Caring for the health of others is perhaps the greatest and most uplifting human service. Ultimately, without health, there is nothing, even if it is valued little. We remember it when one or a loved one gets sick and we feel vulnerable; when the fear of dying becomes real and we are overwhelmed by helplessness. When we do not know if we will see many of those we love again and who are not with us, as happens in these days of isolation. I think of the doctors, dedicated to addressing the crisis caused by the coronavirus. In their days without schedules, exposed to contagion and to infecting their own in the few moments they see their families. In the anguish of knowing that the possibilities are limited; that there are cases where there is nothing to be done, no matter how many ventilators and medicines are at hand. It was reported in: elpais.com.co (April 19).
Source: La República – National
Date: April 18
Headline: During quarantine, gasoline sales have fallen 80% and diesel sales 50%.
Due to Covid-19, according to the most recent information revealed by the ACP (Colombian Petroleum Association), private oil companies in Colombia will cut production, reduce exploration, and some may close completely if crude prices remain at current levels and production costs remain high. Sylvia Escovar, president of Terpel, assured LR that this represents a huge challenge for the company and for the sector of activities related to fuels. What measures has the company taken during quarantine? The measures we have taken in the company have focused on protecting our employees, our affiliates and franchisees, our customers, and on continuing to mobilize those who need it most during this situation. The changes in the processes that involve this protection are being implemented and permanently updated throughout the chain with an emphasis on workplaces, and in interactions with our consumers, with our shareholders, and, in general, with all our stakeholders. It was reported in:larepublica.co (April 18).
Source: La W Radio – National
Date: April 17
Source: corrillos.com.co – Regional
Date: April 17
Headline: Low prices threaten private oil companies
Private oil companies in Colombia will cut production, reduce exploration, and some could close completely if prices remain at current levels and production costs remain high, said the leader of the association of private crude producers. (…) Although the state-owned Ecopetrol produces most of the oil in Colombia, private companies produced 342,700 barrels of oil per day in January, according to the ACP. Some private companies have already made decisions to reduce production, including Canadian firms Frontera Energy and Parex Resources. Frontera reduced its production range for 2020 to between 55,000 and 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, down from an initial outlook of 60,000 to 65,000 barrels. The company said that wells that are not profitable to operate will be closed. Likewise, Parex acknowledged that it will reduce production in the second quarter.
GREMIO
Source: El Espectador
Date: April 20
Headline: Businesspeople and citizens showed their solidarity
The resources from the “Bogotá Solidaria en Casa” donation campaign will be used to guarantee a minimum income for 500,000 vulnerable families in the District. The people of Bogotá showed their solidarity with the less fortunate and reached into their pockets to contribute to the great donation campaign Bogotá Solidaria en Casa, which took place this Sunday. (…) By 7:00 p.m., more than $50,000 million had been raised, of which $45,601 million were in-kind donations. The prominence of the citizens was joined by that of the Bolívar group, Santodomingo group, Ecopetrol, Bavaria, Grupo Éxito, Advent fund, Argos, SURA, Alqueria, among others.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: April 20
Headline: Businesspeople provide more support to the country
The capital of the country held a solidarity event called Donatón por Bogotá yesterday, where resources were collected to assist the most vulnerable families in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The infrastructure holding Grupo Argos joined the campaign and wrote on its Twitter account: “Together we can help those who need it most. From Grupo Argos we join the #DonatónBogotá, with 400 million pesos to lend a hand to the most vulnerable families.” (…) The Ecopetrol Group also joined the donation campaign, stating that with the help of its allies, they would allocate more than 10,000 million pesos to combat the coronavirus.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: April 20
Headline: Energy and retail, the promising stocks
Generalized uncertainty has hit the Colombian Stock Exchange, and this is reflected in the Colcap index, the most important in our stock market, which has fallen 24.27 % in the last 12 months. However, analysts recommend some equity markets to continue investing. (…) For the most recent trading session, Ecopetrol, preferred Bancolombia, IColcap, preferred Grupo Aval, and Grupo Sura recorded the highest trading volumes. However, they all have something in common, which is that compared to a year ago, they have fallen in value. The loss of Ecopetrol has been 35 % and the preferred Bancolombia has been 33 %. Stocks like Cemex Latam Holdings or Avianca have declined more than 60 %.
Source: El Colombiano
Date: April 20
Headline: Where did the AUC's ships land?
In the words of Alexandra Valencia, magistrate of the Justice and Peace Chamber of the Superior Court of Bogotá, the now-defunct Central Bolívar Bloc (Bcb) “was the most powerful war machine that had the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Auc) at its service. The jurist was not only referring to the trail of blood and pain left on more than 14,000 victims by the 7,603 fighters of that group, spread across nine fronts in Antioquia, Bolívar, Vichada, Putumayo, Risaralda, Caquetá, Arauca, and Caldas; (…) “In the area where the ‘tocotoco’ operated, in southern Bolívar, it was also an air corridor for the helicopters that Ecopetrol had for the surveillance and maintenance of the pipeline. Our pilots flew very low, almost touching the trees so that the traces would not be detected by the authorities” radars. They only gained altitude in combat to avoid being shot down.”.
Source: Vanguardia Liberal
Date: April 20
Headline: Sena works for health
Did you know that a protective mask should have a maximum porosity of 0.15 millimeters to be truly effective in preventing COVID-19 transmission? (…) And this is how, in partnership with companies like Clínica FOSCAL, Hospital Internacional de Colombia, Hospital Universitario, Ecopetrol-ICP, Pladesan, and Print3D Colombia, programs have advanced such as the development of protective face shields, venturi valve pieces, a thermal camera, 2×1 Y-derivators to attend to two patients with the same mechanical ventilator, patient transport boxes in ambulances, Fluid Box, and caj.
Source: diariolalibertad.com
Date: April 20
Headline: Donatón raised more than $51,696 million for the most vulnerable, thanks to everyone: Claudia López
During 12 continuous hours, thousands of citizens, artists, and entrepreneurs demonstrated their big hearts and unstoppable solidarity to benefit 150,000 vulnerable families in the city, who require more help during this quarantine for life. The city’s mayor made a special recognition to the more than 36,700 people who generously joined this great Donatón. (…) Among the main donations collected are those from Grupo Bolívar, Constructora Bolívar, and Davivienda, which delivered 14,000 million pesos for the equipping of hospitals and ICUs, as well as 100,000 food baskets; while Ecopetrol donated 10,000 million pesos that will be allocated to the health sector.
Source: casanarenoticias.com
Date: April 20
Headline: More than 200 families in Casanare have benefited from contributions from Ecopetrol Group workers
A total of 200 families from Casanare have benefited from the contributions made by Ecopetrol Group workers who continue to provide humanitarian aid to the population most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in various municipalities of the department. During the months of March and April, 200 food baskets have been delivered to the vulnerable population, informal workers, and those who live off daily work. Since March 20, the GE Foundation promoted among employees, retirees of Ecopetrol and Cenit, its subsidiary for hydrocarbon transportation and logistics, the donation of one day’s salary or an amount of free choice to support the most affected families, an initiative that was also joined by volunteers through deposits on the PSE platform.
Topics
Source: La República
Date: April 20
Headline: Twin deficits of Colombia 2020-2021. By: Sergio Clavijo
Despite Colombia's resilience during 2018-2019, the deterioration caused by the collapse of oil prices in 2020-2021 is becoming increasingly evident. The macro-financial tension experienced during 2015-2016 is repeating itself. Although the trigger has been COVID-19, the struggle for market share in the oil sector explains prices of US$25-35 per barrel/Brent. Before the pandemic, prices of US$60-65 were expected in 2020, similar to those of 2019. Nevertheless, an external deficit of 4% of GDP was forecasted, similar to those of 2016-2018 (see IMF, Art. IV of April 2019).
Source: La República
Date: April 20
Headline: The dollar at $4,000 and low oil prices will continue in isolation.
This Monday, the Representative Market Rate (TRM) will be set at $3,973.06 and, after showing slight reductions during the first half of April, with the increase of $30.14 recorded last Friday, it again approached the level of $4,000, from which it had dropped since the sixth day of this month. (…) According to the portfolio manager of Colfondos, Andrés Herrera, this situation is also compounded by the setback in the recovery of oil prices due to global oversupply, despite the most recent cut in production of nearly 10 million barrels per day by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Source: Portafolio
Date: April 20
Headline: Virtual prior consultations face Government and Attorney General
A counterpoint has arisen in recent days between the Government and the Attorney General regarding the issue of conducting prior consultations using virtual means. And as a result of this confrontation, many key projects in the mining-energy sector are pending resolution on whether these assemblies will be held in person or through digital channels. (…) In a letter sent to Minister Arango, the delegated attorney for Ethnic Affairs, Richard Moreno, stated that this decision affects the essential core of the fundamental right to prior consultation of ethnic peoples in the national territory. (…) Records from the Ministry of the Interior indicate that as of March 17 (one day before the start of the quarantine), the number of active prior consultations was greater than 10,200 processes in their various stages, of which the vast majority will continue on their path in the environmental licensing stage.
Source: uniminutoradio.com.co
Date: April 20
Headline: [Opinion] Lessons from COVID-19
The world's confinement has brought important lessons. While past pandemics such as smallpox, the Black Death, or the Spanish flu resulted in a higher number of deaths, one element in the 21st century plays an essential role in viral containment: information. The ongoing monitoring by Johns Hopkins University, the immediate news about the number of deaths, infected, and recovered, almost in real-time, demonstrates that today the attack can be controlled. (…) In this operation, it would be known when it begins, but not when it ends. Hence the need to insist on the ethical protocols that must prevail in science when undertaking this type of biotechnological research, which can affect humanity or the biosphere, such as fracking, pesticides, glyphosate, or genetically modified organisms.
Institutional
Source: bluradio.com
Date: April 20
Headline: Minminas demanded Ecopetrol contractors comply with disinfection
In Puerto Wilches, Santander, the community had to disinfect several Ecopetrol vehicles that did not comply with biosecurity protocols. Considering that this week the Puerto Wilches community rejected the entry of several Ecopetrol workers to a plant because they did so via a small boat and without the disinfection protocols against coronavirus, the Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Diego Mesa, said on BLU RADIO that it is necessary to strictly adhere to these safety measures. (…) It is also important to mention that the coronavirus has led to a notable reduction in personnel at the various production plants, and in this sense, the request from the Ministry of Mines is to operate with the smallest number of people possible. That is, only with essential workers, something that can be evidenced in the Barrancabermeja refinery, which shut down one of its plants to avoid completely halting fuel production in the country.
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas