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Social impacts management

May 16, 2024

Impacts associated with business activities and measures for their management

Ecopetrol complies with international standards of corporate due diligence as for human rights and national legal requirements established by the Constitution, the law, and the environmental authorities (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development – MADS (for its acronym in Spanish), National Authority of Environmental Licenses - ANLA (for its acronym in Spanish), Regional Autonomous Corporations - CAR (for its acronym in Spanish), and Ministry of Interior for prior consultations).

To achieve this, Ecopetrol identifies and values social impacts from broad and sufficient citizen participation spaces in the exercise of environmental democracy with stakeholders, in a scenario of dialogue, exchange of knowledge, active listening, respect and representativeness that allows the right to access information in a transparent, complete, timely manner, and adapted to the language and cultural approach in each case. This allows to analyze the way in which projects contribute or not to these impacts on the setting in each territory.

The organization values the prevention of citizen participation and, therefore, along with official institutions, local and national government and based on environmental justice, as established in the Escazú Agreement, builds the definition of prevention, mitigation, control, and compensation measures in each project.

Listed below are some of the impacts identified, and the management measures implemented:

Region

Operation

Identified Impacts

Management Measures

Orinoquia Region

(Eastern Territory)

Production from Rubiales, Caño Sur fields in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, Department of Meta.

  1. Modification of accessibility, mobility, and local connectivity: affectation of the shared use road, especially during the rainy season. (Caño Sur, Rubiales, and Alto Neblinas-Rubiales).

 

  1. Generation of social conflict:

 

  • Violent actions, mainly for contracting goods and services and personnel (industry and non-industry activities).
  • Difficulties in the interaction of ethnic communities with outsiders and institutions, and high expectations of investment with a differential approach.

 

  1. Economic activity modification in the area: changes in the productive and commercial structure of the population and local companies.

 

  1. Change in demographic variables: increase in population density due to migratory dynamics that can be attributed to the industry and cumulative impacts of personnel housing.

 

  1. Change in social land use.
  1. Timely and transparent information and communication with authorities and communities regarding the use of the road and its maintenance

 

  1. Joint work groups for a strategic and tactical coordination with operators for the integral management of the territory:

 

  • Multi-stakeholder, systematic and anticipated social dialogue for the participatory construction of shared visions of the territory and due diligence in the face of factual procedures.
  • Contractor management for impact management.
  • Timely and coordinated execution of programs for the benefit of the communities, in accordance with the obligations with the ANH, and the strategic investment.

 

  1. Economic diversification through the strengthening of productive vocation for generation of non-oil related employment.

 

 4. and 5. Strengthening of Community Action Boards in the use of their community management capacity, and tools for dialogue, citizen participation, and transparency.

Andean South Pacific Region

(Central Western Territory)

CUNDINAMARCA
(Ubalá, Medina, Paratebueno, Guaduas, Yacopí, Puerto Salgar)


TOLIMA
(Carmen de Apicalá, Ortega, Espinal and Melgar)


BOYACÁ
(Santa María)

 

CUNDINAMARCA

  1. Generation and/or alteration of social conflicts:

 

  • Change in interrelation ties between citizens and their institutions.
  • Generation of expectations from the project.

 

  1. Modification of accessibility, mobility, and local connectivity: Shared use of the road that changes the habitual use for mobilizations.

 

TOLIMA

  1. Creation and/or alteration of social conflicts (Alleged impact on land adjacent to the location of the Aralia property).

 

 

 

 

1. Strategies to bring the institutional framework closer to the population:

 

- Strengthening of mechanisms for citizen participation and project formulation and management as a tool for community self-management.

 

- Information and communication program focused on opportunities for social dialogue for collective understanding, with emphasis on environmental issues, employability, and goods and services.

 

2. Change in access, use, and distribution of natural resources.

 

3. Attention to the complainants, conducting a hydrogeological study in the definition of the compensation.

 

- Development of relationship initiatives agreed with authorities and community to generate trust and pedagogical programs, social dialogue.

 

- Active and effective permanent PQRS channels for prevention and attention to conflicts.

 

Andean South Pacific Region

(Andean South Territory)

HUILA

Aipe, Neiva, Palermo, Tello, Yaguará and Villavieja

 

PUTUMAYO

Orito, Puerto Caicedo, Valle del Guamez, San Miguel, Ipiales

 

PUTUMAYO

 

  1. Economic activity modification in the area: non-standardized practices, outside the legal framework of contractor companies.

 

  1. Modification of accessibility, mobility, and local connectivity: shared use and deterioration of roads and public infrastructure, especially in the rainy season).

 

  1. Generation and/or alteration of conflicts:
  • Ethnic issues: expectations of differential inclusion in local agendas and labor participation. Cumulative impacts caused by the industry.
  • Social conflicts due to social investment expectations.
     

HUILA

 

  1. Economic activities modification of the area: generation of jobs in energy transition projects with different working conditions (non-oil salaries and less labor).

 

 HUILA AND PUTUMAYO

 

5. Generation and/or alteration of social conflicts:

- New local stakeholders in search of social and political support.

- Population (young people, professionals, unions) in search of opportunities.

 

  1. Information and communication programs focused on social dialogue opportunities as a collective understanding tool, such as employability and goods and services.

 

  1. Engagement mechanisms with communities and coordination within the company for a comprehensive management of the territory.

 

  1. Diverse and inclusive social dialogue scenarios for the construction of a joint vision of the territory. Strengthening of the Community Action Boards:

 

  • Renewal and communication of the social investment portfolio.

 

  1. Promotion of active participation of the population in the Public System of Employment - SPE (for its acronym in Spanish) for the reduction of conflicts.

 

  1. Informative mechanisms to lower stakeholder expectations.

Piedemonte Region


CASANARE

Yopal – Floreña and Pauto, Aguazul, - Cupiagua, Tauramena – Cusiana, Hato Corozal, Ll121 Paz de Ariporo.

ARAUCA – SARARE

Saravena, Tame, Cubará and Toledo.

 

  1. Modification of accessibility, mobility, and local connectivity: shared use of access roads and increased deterioration (rainy season).

 

  1. Change in demographic variables:
  • Arrival of population from other areas of the country in search of job opportunities in the oil industry.
  • Sudden change in the number of inhabitants in the area, due to factors related to the transformation of opportunities derived from the project.
  • Changes in local roots due to the arrival of foreign personnel.

 

  1. Modification of economic activities in the area: change in land use and transformation of production practices.

 

 

  1. Production and/or alteration of social conflicts:

- High expectation in the quantity and coverage of job opportunities of the project's employment offer.

  1. Synergy with regional traffic authorities to learn about and share the most recurring problems on the roads.

 

  1. Information strategies with municipal authorities and communities to lower expectations regarding the scope of the project:

 

- Recognition of artistic expressions as an intercultural meeting point in the relationship.

 

 

  1. Prioritization of local economic development, through strategies for organic and solidarity-based strengthening of the Community Action Boards, in terms of their liabilities, values, rights and duties as community interlocutors.

 

  1. Information and communication programs focused on social dialogue opportunities as a collective understanding tool, such as employability and goods and services.

Caribbean Region

LA GUAJIRA
(Uribia, Manaure, Maicao, Dibulla, Riohacha)
 
BOLÍVAR
(Cartagena)
 
CESAR
(El Copey)

  1. Creation and/or alteration of social conflicts:

 

- Offshore project development, associated with the performance of prior consultations and the lack of definition of the black line in offshore, as well as the lack of knowledge of stakeholders on labor contracting regulations.

 

- Creation of expectations in the population due to the energy transition roadmap: employment expectations and salary differences in activities that are not specific to the sector.

 

  • Generation and alteration of social conflicts due to differences in criteria relative to actions of Ecopetrol Group companies in offshore and onshore projects.

 

  1. Economic activities in the area are changing: population with training in the hydrocarbon sector and demand for energy transition activities (wind and solar energy).

 

  1. Information and communication program focused on spaces for social dialogue as a tool for collective understanding, with a focus on employability and goods and services:

 

  • Strengthening relationships of trust, mainly with ethnic groups and women under a differential approach, implementing spaces for dialogue and improving their capacities.

 

  • Contribution to local development from the consolidation of the sustainable development portfolio with investment in water, gas, education, circular economy, and green businesses.

 

  • Permanent, inclusive, timely, and transparent dialogue with the new Community Action Boards, the ethnic groups of La Guajira and Cartagena (Bolívar), and the regional contractors.

 

  1. Strategic alliances for the qualification of the occupational profile in alternative energies (SENA, Corpoeducación, and the Secretariat of Education).

 

- Creation of synergies for the regulatory compliance of hiring through the Public Employment System – SPE (for its acronym in Spanish).

 

Central

Region

SANTANDER

(Barrancabermeja, Puerto

Wilches, Sabana de Torres,

San Vicente de Chucurí,

Rionegro)

 

CESAR

(San Martín)

 

ANTIOQUIA

(Puerto Nare, Puerto

Triunfo, Yondó)

 

BOLÍVAR

(Cantagallo)

 

BOYACÁ

(Puerto Boyacá)

 

NORTE DE SANTANDER

(Tibú)

  1. Change in the economic activities of the area: non-standardized practices, outside the legal framework of contractors.

 

  1. Generation and/or alteration of social conflicts due to changes in the dynamics of employment, goods and services: young people, women, professionals, and guilds looking for employment opportunities.

 

  1. Change in social land use due to the transformation of productive practices.

 

  1. Change in demographic variables: foreign migration in search of job opportunities with the industry.

 

  1. Modification of accessibility, mobility, and local connectivity: shared use of access roads, close to homes and increased deterioration, especially in the rainy season

 

  1. Alteration in the visual perception of the landscape: impacts caused by noise, light and particulate matter; conflict due to damage to third parties.

 

  1. Involuntary relocation of population: temporary and permanent resettlement.
  1. Spaces for social dialogue as a tool for collective understanding, with a focus on employability and goods and services.

 

  1. Implementation of a comprehensive strategy to integrate segments (clusters) in the Middle Magdalena, focused on enhancing employment, labor conditions, and the procurement of goods and services.

 

  1. Formation of strategic partnerships aimed at bolstering the region's productive capacity and fostering job creation beyond the industrial sector, in collaboration with partners such as Agrosol, to facilitate economic diversification.

 

  1. Collaboration with partners and institutions to prioritize the recruitment of local labor and procurement of goods and services, along with the establishment of mechanisms to disseminate information on the required labor supply.

 

  1. Formulation of strategies for the effective utilization and upkeep of transportation routes, coupled with the implementation of informative mechanisms to facilitate equipment mobilization.

 

  1. Monitoring of possible impacts together with the environmental team and definition of an action plan.

 

  1.  Understanding the dynamics with an ethnic differential approach and compliance with relocation protocols.

Orinoquía Region (Orinoquía Territory)

META

Villavicencio, Acacías, Guamal, Castilla La Nueva, Cumaral, Restrepo, San Martín, Cubarral, El Dorado, San Carlos de Guaroa.

 

  1. Generation of social conflicts: New local actors, including associations, unions, and environmental groups are emerging, seeking social and political support under environmental premises.

 

  • Conflicts arise over labor participation, creating disparities and tensions within the local population. Invisible boundaries between municipalities in Meta, coupled with a high presence of contractors operating concurrently, exacerbate these issues.

 

  • Conflict because of new projects in the low emissions line: disagreement over salary differences and volume of labor contracting in these projects as compared to inherent activities in the hydrocarbon industry.

 

  1. Modification of economic activities in the area due to poor employment conditions: breach of labor obligations by contractor companies.
     
  1. Timely systematic and transparent information and communication program with institutional support, multi-stakeholder social dialogue. Participatory construction of shared visions of territory and due diligence relative to violent actions:

 

  • Joint work groups on strategic and tactical coordination with the operators for a comprehensive management of the territory, as well as efforts with contractors for managing impacts.

 

  • Strengthening of Community Action Boards for development of community management capacities and tools for dialogue, citizen participation, and transparency.

 

  • Timely and coordinated execution of programs for the benefit of the communities, both in compliance with obligations with the ANH, and by virtue of strategic voluntary investment.

 

  1. Strengthening of productive skills to generate employment outside the industry for economic diversification.

 

 

Involvement of stakeholders in social impact management

In 2023, a total of 3,402 formal participation sessions involving Society, Community, and Government stakeholders were held. Of these, 3,323 were face-to-face, and 79 were conducted virtually, focusing on areas with Ecopetrol presence or interest, ensuring a coverage rate of 85.3% (177 total assets) for productive assets, and 91.2% (102 total projects) for development projects, based on community participation and consultation. The agenda included themes such as impact identification, potential risks, and implementation of mitigation measures for project-related adverse effects. Additionally, community development programs and consultation processes with local communities were addressed.

 

Below are the figures for the scenarios by region:

 

Table. 2023 Number of scenarios by region

Region

Number of scenarios

Number of

attendees

Andean South Pacific

481

5,770

Orinoquía

434

21,801

Caribbean

365

4,620

Piedemonte

468

6,053

Central

235

4,227

Affiliate - Hocol

850

11,809

Partners

569

9,774

Total

3,402

64,054

Source: Vice- Presidency of Sustainable Territorial Development, Dialogue and Relationship Management

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