in the last six months The oil sector has lost nearly 16,000 jobs (2,452 direct and 13,475 indirect) due to the reduction that has been occurring in the number of drills that are active in the country.
According to the most recent report presented by Campetrol, the union of oil goods and services, since November 2022 there is a downward trend in the number of teamsgoing from 155 to 126 in April of this year, which means a drop of 18.7 percent.
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Compared to the 136 drills that were registered in operation during the month of March, a decrease of 7.4 percent was reported last April. of the 126 active rigs accounted for, 40 dedicated to drilling activities and 86 to workovers.
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It is estimated that in July there are 119 active drills in the country.
Akos Stiller/Bloomberg
This reduction has a direct impact on the generation of employment by the sector and, according to Campetrol, it is directly related to the completion of projects and contracts in the departments of Meta, Santander, Casanare and Putumayo.
The union also warns that the decline will not stop there, as another seven rigs are expected to stop drilling in July, which would bring the number of operating drills to 119 in that month.
The report also revealed that preliminary oil production for the month of April 2023 reached 782,900 barrels of oil per day (bpd). This represents a growth of 4.2 percent compared to the same period last year, providing a glimmer of hope for the sector.
Despite of slight increase in productionThe reduction in the activity of the drills and the loss of jobs are reasons for concern for the oil industry in Colombia.
The authorities and the actors involved in the sector will begin to analyze these figures and seek strategies that promote the reactivation and employment generation in this important industry of the country.
JUAN DAVID CANO LOPERA
School of Multimedia Journalism EL TIEMPO
ECONOMY WRITING
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