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Social setting and security events
May 7, 2025
Ecopetrol conducts its activities in territories with complex social and public order conditions, among which are a culture of illegality, migration, homicide, kidnapping, extortion, and presence of illegal armed groups. These conditions represent a risk for the people, the security of the infrastructure as a strategic asset of the Nation, and the continuity of the operation. The company conducts systematic monitoring and analysis of the setting through the identification, assessment, and monitoring of environmental events so as to take measures to anticipate and prevent potential risks identified as an element that contributes to strategic decision making. These events are analyzed based on their cause, interactions, situations and dynamics existing in the territory.
Comparison of alarms and incidents
In 2024, there was a 4.3% decrease in the number of events reported as compared to the previous year; 3,970 environmental and security events were registered, of which 1,330 corresponded to alarms and 2,637 to incidents. Of the incidents occurred, 1,512 (57%) are due to environmental events and 1,125 (43%) to physical security events.
Alarms on setting event alarms increase by 20.3%, going from 794 in 2023 to 955 in 2024. It is worth noting that the non-materialization of alarms has remained stable at around 80% since 2023 (80.9% in 2023 and 79% in 2024), that is, of every 100 alarms detected, 79 do not materialize in environmental incidents. The foregoing indicates progress made in both detection and timely reporting, as well as in the Company's ability to anticipate, respond, and implement preventive care.
Graph. Comparison of number of alarms and incidents related to environment and security from 2019 to 2024
Source: Corporate Vicepresidency of Transformation of the Territory and HSE, Dialogue and Relationships Management
Main incident themes
Regarding environmental incidents, in 2024 it has been evidenced that the issue of Local Labor remains being the main source of conflict in the territories, which represents 32.7% of the total incidents with a 19.3% increase as compared to the previous period, mainly due to demands for hiring positions or opening vacancies not required in activities already started. Furthermore, dissatisfaction with selection processes and pressure to hire specific people were identified as relevant causes.
Second, the Labor Contract Management issue, which represents 16.5% of the total incidents and had an increase of 34.6% compared to 2023. These events include disagreement with the termination or suspension of contracts, which represented 26.9% of the cases, followed by alleged non-compliance with payments with 25.7%, and disagreement with working conditions (working hours, shifts, food, among others), which represented 10.8%.
Third, there are the Union Issues. Although this issue represents 14.9% of the total incidents, its decrease was 37% compared to the previous year. These events were mainly related to disagreements with contracting companies, representing 49.3%, followed by conditions, labor aspects and conventional benefits with 15.1%. Despite being ranked in third place, 85.3% of these events last less than 12 hours.
Graph. Comparative number of incidents in the setting 2023 vs 2024
Source: Corporate Vicepresidency of Transformation of the Territory and HSE, Dialogue and Relationships Management
Furthermore, physical security incidents materialized as theft, sabotage, damage, attacks and illegal valves.
Graph. Number of security incidents 2024
Source: Physical Security Management
Regarding security related events, which also translate into deferred production, the company activates plans in coordination with Government entities for timely attention of materialized events, to thus minimize impacts.
Attacks on infrastructure
During 2024, there were 2 attacks on Ecopetrol's infrastructure, which occurred in the municipalities of Castilla La Nueva (Meta) and Barrancabermeja (Santander), in the systems: flow line of the Castilla-2 well and 12" Line of the OLC - GRB Oil Pipeline respectively, allegedly perpetrated by illegal groups.
In response, Ecopetrol immediately implemented contingency plans to prevent potential harm to people and reduce the impact of the oil spill on ecosystems. Additionally, there is permanent coordination with the Public Force, with control activities on hydrocarbon transportation lines, to prevent these events, coordinated with the Attorney General's Office for the prosecution of criminal structures involved in this criminal activity.
