Colombia President Backs Oil, Gas Push

Bogota: Colombian Presid­ent Abelardo de la Espriella has pledged to revive the country’s oil and gas sector, restore state-owned energy company Ecopetrol and stre­ngthen the electricity system.

During his inauguration on Friday, de la Espriella backed a transition towards cleaner energy but said it should not weaken the oil and gas industry. “I believe in the energy transition,” he said, adding, it must be built on self-sufficien­cy rather than dependence.

The policy marks a shift from former President Gustavo Petro, who stopped awarding new oil and gas exploration contracts while promoting renewable energy.

De la Espriella also backed expanded exploration and fracking under “the strictest technical and environmental standards”, saying declining reserves, delayed projects and rising electricity demand had left the energy system in a “critical situation”.

US vows $1 Billion Security Aid 

The US plans to provide $1 billion in security assistance to Colombia after De la Espriella pledged a crackdown on drug trafficking and armed groups. The US State Department said the proposed package, subject to working with Congress, would support shared security goals. De la Espriella, who was sworn in on Friday, vowed to restore “order, authority and freedom” and said criminal gangs and “narco-terrorist” groups must submit to the law or face action by Colombian security forces.