According to the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), ExxonMobil Corp has submitted a proposal to carry out a pilot project for hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - in Colombia. The project it applied for is concentrated in Colombia’s Valle Medio del Magdalena basin.

At the moment, Colombia is still gathering scientific studies that can provide valuable insight on the risks and benefits of fracking. Development of non-conventional energy deposits - including fracking for shale gas and coal bed methane - is highly polarizing in Colombia and commercial development of such deposits is currently not permitted (Reuters, 2021). 

However, the interested from Exxon is a confident step towards Colombia’s progress in the possibility of extracting gas and oil from non-conventional fields. Following ExxonMobil’s proposal, the ANH will have until March 29 to evaluate the plan.