The president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) asserted Wednesday that Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos’ comments regarding an unnamed oil contractor submitting to extortion demands must be clarified.
Santos claimed Tuesday that the oil contractor made extortion payments to an undisclosed illegal armed group and may therefore face expulsion, leaving foreign oil companies in a “state of doubt.”
ACP President Alejandro Martinez said it was necessary for Santos to clarify which foreign oil company complied with demands for extortion payments from illegal armed groups.
“[Santos’] statement generated a bad atmosphere between the oil companies that are planting seeds of doubt on who is paying extortion fees to illegal groups, which is serious.”
Martinez explained that Santos’ statement is bad for the image of all foreign oil companies in Colombia.
“If there is still no assurance that actions will be taken against the firm it is better not to generalize the issue,” ACP president told newspapers Wednesday.
Members of the ACP hope that official communication with President Santos will help expose which oil company is guilty of complying with demands from illegal armed groups.