Frequent gas leaks caused by global oil company Omega Energy threatened thousands of lives in a central Colombian town, the department’s mining and energy secretary said Thursday.
Mining and Energy Secretary Wilson Sanchez told Caracol Radio that Omega Energy had dragged its feet responding to safety concerns caused by the company’s drilling activities in the town of Corrales, in the central northern department of Boyaca.
“We have already had three meetings with Omega Energy, but they have yet to outline plans to provide greater security for the community,” Sanchez said.
Omega Energy received numerous complaints from the community of Corrales after it failed to quickly staunch two gas leaks caused by the company’s oil extraction.
The U.S.-based oil and energy company operates two wells that produce more than 1,000 barrels of oil per day, with plans to open six more oil wells in Boyaca.