Colombia's fracking plans take on a new urgency

The new administration is turning to shale deposits to hold back the threat of imports

The Colombian government's controversial plans to expand advanced fracking, while keeping a focus on robust environmental regulation, are entering a new phase. Ecopetrol, the state-owned oil firm, applied for an environmental license on 29 October to begin a pilot fracking project in the central Magdalena Medio region. Fracking was a highly controversial subject in the lead-up to Colombia's presidential vote in June. Iván Duque, now president, favoured the strategy of using advanced fracking with environmental controls, while the leftist candidate Gustavo Petro supported greater investment in renewables. Ecopetrol's application will likely re-awaken the debate. The shift comes as Colombia de