Court ruling expected this week on fracking in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley

A high court ruling on fracking in Colombia is expected this week.

On September 8, the Colombian newspaper Semana reported, “In the next few days, the decision of the State Council on precautionary measures that suspended this controversial technique of extracting oil and gas will come out.”

BNamericas has reported, “Last November, the state council – Colombia’s highest administrative tribunal – suspended all administrative acts related to fracking, arguing that the country lacked the necessary regulatory framework.”

The Latin American Post further specifies, “On Friday, November 9, the high court reported on the decision to temporarily suspend the Decree 3004 of December 26, 2013, and the Resolution 90341 of March 27, 2014. With these, the National Government established the criteria for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in unconventional deposits.”

If the State Council rules in favour of fracking, then several pilot projects are expected to proceed in north-central Colombia.

Industry Trend explains, “A commission of experts recommended to the government at the beginning of the year to implement pilot projects in unconventional deposits with fracking under strict environmental monitoring, before deciding whether the controversial technique can be widely used.”

The Oil and Gas Year has reported, “Ecopetrol’s first pilot projects will be located in the country’s Middle Magdalena Valley.” That article quotes Ecopetrol CEO Felipe Bayón Pardo who says that will include “roughly 20 wells”.

Colombians are concerned about fracking. A poll taken in February found that more than 90% of Colombians are opposed to fracking in their country.

The Semana article also notes that the Colombian Alliance Against Fracking hopes “the State Council will not lift the precautionary measure and consider the threatened rights of the communities.”

This November, representatives from two Colombian human rights groups that are accompanied by the Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project will be speaking in Canada to highlight their concerns about fracking and climate change.

More details on this speaking tour by CCALCP and CREDHOS coming soon!