Colombia edges closer to fracking ban

Colombian lawmakers have approved a motion to continue a process aimed at banning hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Andean nation. 

A plenary session of the senate voted 62-9 in favor of a second debate of the proposed anti-fracking legislation, one of President Gustavo Petro's flagship campaign promises ahead of his June 2022 election victory. 

“It is a decision that puts Colombia closer to closing the door ... to predatory and inefficient extraction practices that threaten water resources," environment minister Susana Muhamad said.

Opposition senator Josué Alirio urged fellow lawmakers to consider the examples set by the US and Canada, where unconventional oil and gas drilling has helped to guarantee long-term energy security.  

“We are seeing the beginning of the persecution of drilling in Colombia because this proposal is being conducted in a rushed and incoherent manner," Alirio said. 

In December, Colombia's upper house concluded the first of four debates needed to put the legislation to a congressional vote. 

A ban would upend plans by state-run oil company Ecopetrol and ExxonMobil to jointly develop two unconventional pilot projects at Puerto Wilches, in Santander department. 

According to the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP), the first fracking projects could attract investments of US$5bn a year.

Environmentalists, however, have warned the practice – which requires significant amounts of water and chemicals – poses too great a threat to local ecosystems and human health.