Colombia's ANLA removes environmental approval requirement for offshore drilling

The National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) has modified regulations for offshore oil exploration in Colombia. Through Resolution 002921, the entity eliminated the requirement for the prior evaluation and approval of the Specific Environmental Management Plan (PMAE) before drilling wells at sea.

This regulatory change directly affects the COL-1 Block project, which includes the Komodo-X1 exploratory well. Previously, companies were required to submit detailed protection plans and wait up to three months for a favorable ruling before commencing work. Under the new rules, Anadarko Colombia Company Sucursal Colombia no longer needs this prior authorization to begin drilling operations.

The project is located in the Colombian Caribbean Sea within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone, under the jurisdiction of the port authorities of Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Riohacha. ANLA justified the decision based on recommendations from the Technical Advisory Council and a technical concept from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. The Ministry noted that under Decree 1076 of 2015, specific management plans are not subject to advance approval, as the general environmental viability was established when the original project license was granted. While the prior approval requirement is removed, the verification of environmental measures and site information will now occur at a later stage.