Conflict-torn Colombia’s economically crucial oil industry continues to labor under the pressure of an array of threats. After being severely impacted by the pandemic oil output in the Andean country fell to its lowest level in over a decade, to an average of 694,151 barrels per day during June 2021. Heightened political turmoil leading to nationwide anti-government demonstrations , including community blockades of major roads, forced onshore drillers to shutter operations causing production to plunge. While the protests and blockades ended by mid-July 2021 tensions remain high driven by a surge in violence, lawlessness and poverty since Ivan Duque won the presidency in 2018. Much of that can be attributed to his failure to implement the 2016 peace accord with Colombia’s largest armed group the Marxist FARC. On all accounts, 2021 is shaping up to be Colombia’s most violent year in a decade. Massacres have surged as have the […]