By Luis Jaime Acosta, Oliver Griffin and Sabrina Valle
BOGOTA/HOUSTON (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) is in talks with Colombia's government in hopes of recovering its investment in a fracking pilot project as the U.S. oil major prepares to ditch upstream operations in the Andean country where the government is pushing through a fracking ban, two sources close to the discussions told Reuters.
Exxon has held eight exploration and production contracts in Colombia, including the fracking pilot. All either have been or are being ended, suspended or liquidated, Colombia's National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH) told Reuters.
The company had planned to develop the Platero pilot project for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, eyeing an investment of $53 million, under a contract awarded two years ago.
Colombia's congress has been preparing to pass a fracking ban backed by leftist President Gustavo Petro, who took office nearly nine months ago.
The proposed bill would ban development of non-conventional energy projects including fracking. It has already passed the Senate and is expected to get final congressional approval in the coming months.
The law would leave companies with few options to recoup investments, according to the text of the proposal, including options such as the chance to transfer their investments elsewhere or be awarded rights over other conventional blocks.
Exxon is "reviewing the mechanisms to reach a solution regarding the investments for exploring unconventional" energy resources it has in the country, an Exxon source in Colombia told Reuters.
"We will continue to have constructive dialogue with the Colombian government on a comprehensive assessment of our unconventional investments," Exxon spokesperson Michelle Gray told Reuters.
The term "compensation" does not exist in technical or legal terminology used by the ANH in its processes, the agency said, but Exxon is advancing an "accreditation" process regarding the Platero pilot project.
"The procedure is currently being studied," the ANH said. It did not respond to follow-up questions about what an accreditation process could include.
Supporters of non-conventional efforts in Colombia say the practice would ensure energy sovereignty. Detractors have decried environmental fall-out.
After winning separate approvals to develop fracking pilot projects in Santander (BME:SAN) province, Exxon and Colombia's majority state-owned oil company Ecopetrol said they would team up, with Ecopetrol as operator for both pilots.
Last year, the state-run company asked the ANH to temporarily suspend both licenses, citing uncertainty over their future. The two companies mutually agreed to end their alliance in November, an Ecopetrol spokesperson said this week.
Ecopetrol's new CEO Ricardo Roa said this week he would analyze that company's fracking contracts "with a magnifying glass."
Exxon most recently decided to withdraw from its 70% participation in the VMM-37 block it shared with a subsidiary of Sintana Energy in Colombia's Medio Magdalena region, it confirmed to Reuters this week.
Exxon said it continuously evaluates and prioritize investments, including those in Colombia.
The company will continue in the country through its petrochemicals and marketing businesses, the people said.