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Social setting and security events
May 16, 2024
Ecopetrol conducts its activities in territories with complex social and public order conditions, including a culture of illegality, migration, homicide, kidnapping, extortion, and the presence of illegal armed groups; this represents a risk to 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 social setting through the identification, assessment, and monitoring of social setting 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 2023, there was a 12% increase in the number of events reported as compared to the previous year; 4,148 social setting and security events were registered, 1,220 of which corresponded to alarms (17% increase), and 2,928 to incidents (48% increase). Of the incidents reported, 1,490 (51%) were due to social setting events, and 1,438 (49%) to physical security events.
Source: Vice-presidency of Sustainable Development
Main incident issues
With respect to social setting incidents, in 2023, the main source of conflict in the territories was the issue of local labor, which represented 14% of the total number of incidents and presented an increase of 45% with respect to the previous year, mainly due to the expectations of associations, unions, and the community to hire workers.
Following closely, union activity was attributed 12% of the total incidents, that is, a 41% variation from 2022. While most of these events were of low criticality, they predominantly stemmed from negotiations surrounding collective bargaining agreements.
Ranking third is the issue of labor contract management, representing 6% of the total incidents although showing a staggering 93% increase from the previous year. These incidents primarily revolved around alleged breaches of labor obligations by the company's contractors.
Graph. Comparative number of social setting incidents 2022 vs. 2023
Source: Vice-Presidency of Sustainable Territorial Development
On the other hand, physical security incidents were materialized in the form of theft, sabotage, damage, attacks, and illegal valves.
Graph. Number of physical security incidents 2023
Source: Vice-Presidency of Sustainable Territorial Development
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
In 2023, there were 5 attacks to Ecopetrol's infrastructure, which occurred in the municipality of Barrancabermeja (Santander): 4 in the village of El Centro, and 1 in the village of El Llanito, allegedly perpetuated by illegal groups.
In response, Ecopetrol implemented contingency plans to prevent people from being affected and to reduce the impact of oil spills on ecosystems. Additionally, in coordination with the security forces, Ecopetrol conducted permanent control activities on the hydrocarbon transportation lines to prevent these events and to coordinate with the Attorney General's Office the prosecution of criminal structures involved in this criminal activity.
