May 16, 2024
Ecopetrol complies with international standards of corporate due diligence as for human rights and national legal requirements established by the Constitution, the law, and the environmental authorities (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development – MADS (for its acronym in Spanish), National Authority of Environmental Licenses - ANLA (for its acronym in Spanish), Regional Autonomous Corporations - CAR (for its acronym in Spanish), and Ministry of Interior for prior consultations).
To achieve this, Ecopetrol identifies and values social impacts from broad and sufficient citizen participation spaces in the exercise of environmental democracy with stakeholders, in a scenario of dialogue, exchange of knowledge, active listening, respect and representativeness that allows the right to access information in a transparent, complete, timely manner, and adapted to the language and cultural approach in each case. This allows to analyze the way in which projects contribute or not to these impacts on the setting in each territory.
The organization values the prevention of citizen participation and, therefore, along with official institutions, local and national government and based on environmental justice, as established in the Escazú Agreement, builds the definition of prevention, mitigation, control, and compensation measures in each project.
Listed below are some of the impacts identified, and the management measures implemented:
Region |
Operation |
Identified Impacts |
Management Measures |
Orinoquia Region (Eastern Territory) |
Production from Rubiales, Caño Sur fields in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, Department of Meta. |
|
4. and 5. Strengthening of Community Action Boards in the use of their community management capacity, and tools for dialogue, citizen participation, and transparency. |
Andean South Pacific Region (Central Western Territory) |
CUNDINAMARCA
|
CUNDINAMARCA
TOLIMA
|
1. Strategies to bring the institutional framework closer to the population:
- Strengthening of mechanisms for citizen participation and project formulation and management as a tool for community self-management.
- Information and communication program focused on opportunities for social dialogue for collective understanding, with emphasis on environmental issues, employability, and goods and services.
2. Change in access, use, and distribution of natural resources.
3. Attention to the complainants, conducting a hydrogeological study in the definition of the compensation.
- Development of relationship initiatives agreed with authorities and community to generate trust and pedagogical programs, social dialogue.
- Active and effective permanent PQRS channels for prevention and attention to conflicts.
|
Andean South Pacific Region (Andean South Territory) |
HUILA Aipe, Neiva, Palermo, Tello, Yaguará and Villavieja
PUTUMAYO Orito, Puerto Caicedo, Valle del Guamez, San Miguel, Ipiales
|
PUTUMAYO
HUILA
HUILA AND PUTUMAYO
5. Generation and/or alteration of social conflicts: - New local stakeholders in search of social and political support. - Population (young people, professionals, unions) in search of opportunities.
|
|
Piedemonte Region |
Yopal – Floreña and Pauto, Aguazul, - Cupiagua, Tauramena – Cusiana, Hato Corozal, Ll121 Paz de Ariporo. ARAUCA – SARARE Saravena, Tame, Cubará and Toledo. |
- High expectation in the quantity and coverage of job opportunities of the project's employment offer. |
- Recognition of artistic expressions as an intercultural meeting point in the relationship.
|
Caribbean Region |
LA GUAJIRA |
- Offshore project development, associated with the performance of prior consultations and the lack of definition of the black line in offshore, as well as the lack of knowledge of stakeholders on labor contracting regulations.
- Creation of expectations in the population due to the energy transition roadmap: employment expectations and salary differences in activities that are not specific to the sector.
|
- Creation of synergies for the regulatory compliance of hiring through the Public Employment System – SPE (for its acronym in Spanish).
|
Central Region |
SANTANDER (Barrancabermeja, Puerto Wilches, Sabana de Torres, San Vicente de Chucurí, Rionegro)
CESAR (San Martín) ANTIOQUIA (Puerto Nare, Puerto Triunfo, Yondó)
BOLÍVAR (Cantagallo)
BOYACÁ (Puerto Boyacá)
NORTE DE SANTANDER (Tibú) |
|
|
Orinoquía Region (Orinoquía Territory) |
META Villavicencio, Acacías, Guamal, Castilla La Nueva, Cumaral, Restrepo, San Martín, Cubarral, El Dorado, San Carlos de Guaroa. |
|
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In 2023, a total of 3,402 formal participation sessions involving Society, Community, and Government stakeholders were held. Of these, 3,323 were face-to-face, and 79 were conducted virtually, focusing on areas with Ecopetrol presence or interest, ensuring a coverage rate of 85.3% (177 total assets) for productive assets, and 91.2% (102 total projects) for development projects, based on community participation and consultation. The agenda included themes such as impact identification, potential risks, and implementation of mitigation measures for project-related adverse effects. Additionally, community development programs and consultation processes with local communities were addressed.
Below are the figures for the scenarios by region:
Table. 2023 Number of scenarios by region
Region |
Number of scenarios |
Number of attendees |
Andean South Pacific |
481 |
5,770 |
Orinoquía |
434 |
21,801 |
Caribbean |
365 |
4,620 |
Piedemonte |
468 |
6,053 |
Central |
235 |
4,227 |
Affiliate - Hocol |
850 |
11,809 |
Partners |
569 |
9,774 |
Total |
3,402 |
64,054 |
Source: Vice- Presidency of Sustainable Territorial Development, Dialogue and Relationship Management