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Colombian justice orders the American multinational Drummond to stop producing shale gas. (illustration photo) JOAQUIN SARMIENTO / AFP

The justice system in Colombia has ordered the American multinational Drummond to stop producing shale gas by means of hydraulic fracturing, a controversial method, the Colombian Council of State announced on Friday 13 December.

The Council of State, the highest body of Colombian administrative justice, explains that it has ordered the suspension, on fifteen sites operated by Drummond, of this technique deemed harmful to the environment by its detractors, under penalty of financial sanctions.

Underground cracks

The hydraulic fracturing process consists of creating underground cracks and infiltrating a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into them to allow the extraction of gas or oil captured in the rock.

In September, the American group had denied in a press release to use this technique of shale gas exploitation, claiming to use a process of “ traditional hydraulic stimulation, similar to what has been used for more than 50 years ” in Colombia.

Shale gas exploitation began in 2018

Specializing in the production of coal, Drummond started operating shale gas in one of its mines in the province of Cesar in northeastern Colombia in 2018. The world's fifth largest exporter of coal, Colombia produced more than 84 million tonnes in 2018.

( with AFP )