According to information published by Caracol Radio, the Vice Minister of Energy, Belizza Ruiz, was unaware of the report “Balance of hydrocarbon contracts and resources available for the Just Energy Transition” submitted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy to support its decision not to award new oil and gas exploration contracts.
(Read: The questioning of the oil companies by the announcement of Minminas).
Despite the fact that the 32-page report has Ruiz’s name, the vice minister told that outlet that she knew about the report when it was presented to public opinion and that she had not been previously notified.
Additionally, the outlet pointed out that senior officials within the Ministry showed themselves in disagreement with the data presented in it, since there were technical, regulatory and legal irregularities.
Minister Irene Vélez has indicated on several occasions, as has President Gustavo Petro, that the country is self-sufficient in gas until 2037 and even 2042; however, this is done by counting proven, probable, possible resources (1p, 2p, and 3p), as well as contingent and prospective.
(See: ‘Stopping oil exploration is social suicide’: former President Duque).
According to Flover Rodríguez, president of the Colombian Association of Petroleum Geologists and Geophysicists, 2p and 3p resources require special conditions to be able to be brought to the surface, despite the fact that their existence has already been recognized. Nevertheless, “prospective resources are still far from being reserves, since reserves have to be discovered, these are not“, he pointed.
Therefore, it has been questionedThe arguments used by the portfolio to make the decision not to deliver a new contractputting the security and energy self-sufficiency of the country at risk.
The vice minister has already presented her resignation letter to the President, although it has not yet been accepted.
(Read: Petro’s defense not to sign new oil exploration contracts).
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