*Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has called on the state oil company, Ecopetrol, to sell its fracking operations in the US and invest the proceeds in domestic clean energy production. Speaking during a televised cabinet meeting, Petro responded to Ecopetrol’s 3 February announcement that it has extended a joint venture with the US firm Occidental Petroleum Corporation to continue with drilling in the Permian Basin, Texas, through June 2026. Petro said that this plan is not compatible with his government’s climate goals because “the death of nature is the death of humanity”. He added: “I want these operations to be sold to invest in clean energies in Colombia”. Petro’s remarks came during a period of heightened tensions with the US following his recent row with President Donald Trump, which saw both presidents threaten tariffs of 50% before Petro backed down and agreed to accept US military deportation flights.
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LatinNews Daily - 5 February 2025
In brief: Colombia’s Petro urges sale of Ecopetrol’s US fracking operations
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