For the now former Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez Torres, there were several things that did not go well during her time in that portfolio. Some of his positions on issues such as exploration contracts, as well as the abrupt abandonment of a press conference at the Mining Congress last year, among others, generated harsh criticism. that in some way negatively impacted his image in front of some sectors of public opinion.
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Vélez Torres, a philosopher from the National University and with a PhD in Political Geography, conducted in Copenhagen, He joined the ministerial cabinet of President Gustavo Petro from the very beginning of his current administration, accompanying him during these 11 months.
And although in the resignation letter that the former official published on her Twitter account a few hours ago, she highlights 35 achievements during the time that they remain in charge of the Mining and Energy portfolio, In this extensive list, he does not allude to the different controversies generated by some of his actions and positions on relevant issues for the country.
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One of the first situations that she had to overcome and from which she did not come out well from the critics, occurred at the beginning of September in the middle of the National Mining Congress held in Cartagena, where the now ex-functionary starred in a controversy with a group of journalists during a press conference, in which Susana Muhamad, Minister of the Environment, also participated, and which ended abruptly
There Vélez Torres and Muhamad were consulted by some journalists about the issues addressed in the mining congress and when asked by a communicator, Vélez replied: “There are like 50 questions in one.”
Although the reporters took the attitude of the minister, at that time, jokingly, Vélez reacted immediately by raising his tone in front of the journalists present and from then on the press conference became more tense. to the point that the minister refused to respond to the requests of the press and with annoyance, said: “Then this ends here. Thank you very much to those who managed to listen. And she gave up before the bewilderment of the communicators.
What was said in Davos
The minister announced that no new contracts will be awarded.
Another of Vélez Torres’ controversial departures when he held the Ministry of Mines and Energy, occurred during his participation in the World Economic Forum held in Davos (Switzerland), where he stated that Colombia would not sign new oil and gas exploration contracts: ” It is a sign of our fight against climate change,” he said.
“We know that very soon who are the importers of coal will no longer be important and we need to quickly generate an alternative economy,” said the former minister, who reiterated in that same scenario, in addition that: “We decided that we are not going to award new oil and gas exploration contracts. That has been very controversial at the national level, but for us that is a clear sign of our commitment to the fight against climate change.”
Of course, the avalanche of criticism was not long in coming from experts due to the enormous impact that a decision of this magnitude has on the country’s economy and finances, even more so if this did not follow an orderly and well-planned process.
calculation errors
Government Petro intends to comply with its constituents by not granting more mining exploration contracts.
Vélez Torres justified his statements based on the study ‘Balance of hydrocarbon contracts and resources available for the Just Energy Transition’which was presented on December 15, 2022 and about which some officials of the Ministry of Mines itself have serious reservations.
In said report, which the former official defended, it was stated that oil and gas reserves would reach 2037. Apparently, in his calculations, Vélez combined the prospective resources of the contingents and the reserves, which raised many doubts about the veracity of these figures. so he later had to go out to clarify what was said in Davos.
He assured that this document “is not a reserve report, it was never said that it was.” “Here we are not lying to anyone and misinforming in that way as if we were doing it is irresponsible to the country,” he insisted at the time.
Differences with the vice minister of energy
Former Vice Minister Belizza Ruiz and Minister Irene Vélez.
The reservations report also produced a series of controversies and confrontations within that portfolio, since it appears that the names of officials who did not agree with the results presented therein were included in it, such as that of the vice minister of Energy at the time, Belizza Ruiz, who was included without her authorization, and whom she met after it was published.
This circumstance and other confrontations with her boss immediately led to the deputy minister presenting her resignation from the position, from which she left at the end of last January making strong questions to Vélez Torres, such as that in the ministry he saw a series of practices that were “violating” the principles of professional knowledge. In addition, he confirmed that the minister lied to the country with the report on gas and oil reserves.
“Although it sounds a bit strong, I felt that they were practices that came from my boss immediately, who was the minister. I spoke to her and I directly reported that I did not agree. That is the main point of my desire to no longer be there,” Ruiz said at the time.
