Impact of Colombia Elections on the Energy and Mining Sectors

About the Event

March 13’s congressional and primary elections solidly placed Colombia’s political left in the mix in both the Senate and House of Representatives, most significantly at the expense of President Duque’s incumbent political party. It sets up an unprecedented balance of political power bases from the left, center-left, center-right, and right in Congress that could result in political gridlock at a time when the country demands employment and continued economic growth. All eyes are now focused on Colombia’s presidential elections and the likely scenario that Gustavo Petro wins at least the first-round elections taking place on May 29. What will a highly divided Congress and a historically unseen political landscape mean for Colombia’s important extractive sectors? Join us as we discuss what kind of checks and balances may be tested under the incoming government, what are the limits of presidential power in Colombia, what signposts to look for as we head into these presidential elections, and how the extractive sectors and energy transition may rank vs. other priorities of any incoming government. We will also discuss contract sanctity, potential regulatory changes and acquired rights, and strategic steps companies may want to start considering to both protect their interests and position themselves.

Our guest speakers include:

• John D. Padilla, Managing Director, IPD Latin America
• Sergio Guzman E., Director, Colombia Risk Analysis
• Jose Vicente Zapata, Partner, Holland & Knight