It Is Not Necessary to Undergo Prior Consultation for Pilots That Are Made on Fracking

Environment attorney Juan Casallas was interviewed for an article by Asuntos Legales about prior consultation requirements for fracking pilot projects in Colombia. Recently, the Administrative Court of Santander revoked the ruling of a Barrancabermeja court that suspended the environmental license of an Ecopetrol fracking pilot on the grounds that communities' right to prior consultation had been violated. Ecopetrol challenged the suspension in April on the grounds that the Integral Investigation Pilot Projects (Ppii) do not imply the exploration or exploitation of hydrocarbons in Non-Conventional Deposits (YNC). After evaluating the case, the Santander court agreed with Ecopetrol. Mr. Casallas explained why prior consultation did not apply to this case. Now, the Constitutional Court must determine whether the case should be reviewed.

"That will be known in one or two months, and the final decision could come out between six and 18 months later," he said.

LEER: It Is Not Necessary to Undergo Prior Consultation for Pilots That Are Made on Fracking