In November 2010, the Colombian National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) granted the Colombian Petroleum Company (Ecopetrol) and the companies Repsol (Spain) and YPF (Argentina) a license to explore and exploit potential sources of gas in two areas of the San Andres Archipelago, Providencia and Santa Catalina. Located in the south-western Caribbean, off the coast of Nicaragua, those islands shelter an important coral ecosystem for the region and were declared by Unesco since 2002 as a Seaflower biosphere reserve (the world's largest network of biosphere reserves on the planet).

The expected environmental impacts of such a project are diverse and start with the exploratory phase during which several wells must be drilled in order to determine its cost-effectiveness. In most cases, the probability of finding hydrocarbon is rather low (one of ten excavations only) and drilling will interfere with the natural resources of the seabed.

Furthermore, the great coral reef is fundamental for the island as it avoids deterioration and erosion of the beach, extermination of all the biodiversity of the area and subsenquently of the vital resources of the communities.

In the area is living the Raizal population which, according to the Political Charter of 1991, constitutes an ethnic minority and must enjoy special treatment to ensure the protection of their rights, culture, identity and survival, who in fact were not consulted as required by the law (Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization - ILO).

Despite the intention of carrying out this exploration, the three companies involved did not provide any information regarding the proceedings of the latter. Neither was given any detail to clarify if the drilling was going to be marine, terrestrial or on the cays.

For the above reasons, the San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina Archipelago (Coralina) Corporation filed a Popular Action against the NHA in order to wind up the project. The pressure exerted by the local community together with the environmental and social associations, as well as the timely response of the Environmental Corporation of the region, allowed to stop the project of exploration of hydrocarbons in 2011. This can be considered as a triumph for environmental justice.

However, the enthusiasm of the population may be shortlived as a decision from The Hague International Court issued in 2012 has granted part of the sea to Nicaragua. The latter announced subsequently its intention to look at the possibility of exploring oil in those territories.

Location

Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina, Colombia

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/8Zz5hHbQMsQ2

Environmental impact

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land degradation (e.g. drought, soil contamination, erosion and desertification)

Ethical/ legal issues

• Life and personal security

Information sources & materials

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