Colombia’s oil production fell in September, despite the government’s efforts to keep it at over a million barrels per day, according to the country’s Ministry of Mines and Energy.
“In September, the average oil production reached 995,000 barrels per day,” said a statement released by the ministry on Wednesday. This represents a decrease from the 1,015,000 daily barrels announced by President Juan Manuel Santos last December.
In August the country produced 1,031,000 barrels per day, meaning that production has dropped by 3.49% in the space of a month.
According to the ministry, the reduction owes to “operating restrictions” and problems with “public order.”
On September 20 all but 50 of the workers at the Cartagena Oil Refinery (REFICAR) went on strike after a dispute about wages and organizing rights. REFICAR refines 80,000 barrels of crude oil annually.
MORE: Strike freezes expansion of Colombia’s oil refining capability
The production of natural gas also fell from August, with the reduction of 1.16% owing to “demand in the market,” according to the ministry of mines and energy.
Sources
- Press release (Ministry of Mines and Energy)
- Producción petrolera en Colombia bajó a 995.000 barriles diarios (El Colombiano)
