By Natalia Rueda 
Ecopetrol, Colombia’s state-owned oil company, is considering a partnership with Venezuela’s PDVSA following the recent lifting of US sanctions on the neighboring country. This potential alliance, which was proposed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has sparked discussions about energy integration and economic reactivation between the two Latin American nations.
The proposal, presented by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, calls for Ecopetrol to become a partner of PDVSA in the exploration and production of natural gas and oil fields in Venezuela. This measure would not only help boost Venezuela’s battered oil industry, but could also alleviate Colombia’s current energy crisis.
Following a meeting between Petro and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Ecopetrol’s board of directors met in extraordinary session to evaluate the proposal. This initiative is expected to have important implications for both nations, as it would allow Colombia to access Venezuela’s gas reserves and provide investment and expertise to the neighboring country’s oil industry.
Tuesday, Ecopetrol opened the door to this possibility, revealing that talks have been taking place and that they have already received approval from the United States to proceed.
The existing contract between Ecopetrol and PDVSA, signed in 2007, allows for the purchase, sale, and transportation of gas between the two countries. However, American sanctions against Venezuela’s oil industry have posed a major obstacle in the past. With the latest development, it appears that the US may be changing its stance on the matter.
In a statement, Ecopetrol explained that they have requested authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States to carry out negotiations with PDVSA regarding hydrocarbons. This request was granted through General License 44, which lifted restrictions for six months to allow for transactions related to the production and export of oil and gas from Venezuela.
However, there is a looming deadline for this partnership to come to fruition. If the political agreements for guarantees of opposition in Venezuela, which allowed for the partial lifting of US sanctions, are not met by April 2024, the partnership may be at risk.
The potential partnership between Ecopetrol and PDVSA holds great promise, but it also raises many questions and possibilities. As negotiations progress and the details of the partnership become clearer, all eyes will be on Colombia and Venezuela. Only time will tell if this partnership will be a successful collaboration or a risky move in the face of ongoing challenges.
With information from El Espectador