President Gustavo Petro demanded the resignation of Ecopetrol's vice president for the Andean region, Bernardo Forero Duarte, amid investigations into illicit enrichment. This request occurs alongside changes in the company's board of directors and the CNE's sanction on the 2022 presidential campaign, which impacts current Ecopetrol president Ricardo Roa. Petro also distanced himself from the USO's stance on the Permian basin business.
President Gustavo Petro addressed a case of alleged illicit enrichment worth $7 billion within Ecopetrol, demanding the resignation of Bernardo Forero Duarte, vice president for the Andean region. According to revelations by journalist Daniel Coronell, Forero is behind allegations from the Financial Information and Analysis Unit (Uiaf). Petro stated on his X account: "Investigations into private accounts must go hand in hand with the Prosecutor's Office. The Ecopetrol official in question must leave, but there must be an investigation by the Prosecutor's Office".
The probes date back to September 2021, March 2024, and January 2025, including pressures to receive money in exchange for contracts, requests for bribes, and a confession about undeclared ownership of a brick factory. Ecopetrol's presidency reportedly did not act on Suspicious Operation Reports (ROS) provided by the Uiaf.
Meanwhile, Ecopetrol is undergoing a wave of changes in its board of directors. Mónica de Greiff resigned in mid-October and was replaced by Ángela María Robledo on November 27, with Álvaro Torres as the new vice president. Guillermo García Realpe will leave his position on December 12. The new composition includes Luis Felipe Henao Cardona and Ricardo Rodríguez as independents, and Tatiana Roa, Hildebrando Vélez, and Alberto José Merlano as non-independents. Additionally, including a workers' representative on the board was approved with 91.1% shareholder support, which could complicate the exit from the Permian basin business.
This turmoil is exacerbated by the National Electoral Council's (CNE) sanction on the "Petro Presidente" 2022 campaign, approved 6-3, for irregularities exceeding $3.5 billion, including unreported contributions from USO ($500 million) and Fecode ($500 million), payments to electoral witnesses ($931 million), and propaganda ($356 million). Fines exceed $2 billion per person against Ricardo Roa, Lucy Mogollón, and Mary Lucy Soto, and $583 million for the Colombia Humana and Unión Patriótica parties. The CNE referred copies to the Prosecutor's Office and the Accusation Committee against Roa, who filed a tutela. Petro rejected the decision, stating: "there is not a single peso from drug trafficking in my campaign" and questioning the CNE's impartiality.
Regarding Permian, Petro expressed openness to a negotiated exit, citing a third study that does not show a "great business" due to production declines and high capital costs. Workers defend the project and demand drilling pilot wells like Kalé and Platero, viewing energy transition as an addition to hydrocarbons.
