The differences between the Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélezand the one who until last week was his deputy minister, Belizza Ruiz —whom President Gustavo Petro has already asked to resign—, are growing more and more.
Both have referred to the other in the last few hours. While Vélez assures that she asked him to resign because she «could not work as a team,» Ruiz said that she left because she saw a series of practices that were «violating» the principles of professional knowledge. In addition, she confirmed that the minister lied to the country with the report on gas and oil reserves.
(You can also read: Irene Vélez: ‘I have detractors outside and within the Government’)
“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 reported directly that I did not agree. That is the main point of my desire to no longer be there, ”she stated in an interview with Cambio. One of those practices was that the minister wanted people who are not part of the ministry to participate in the boards of directors of the electricity companies, she said.
«I always let her yell, get angry, get upset and well, I kept silent because in the end I was not going to argue with my boss,» he told Cambio. «The mistake is when the person is unable to accept that he must be humble in the sense of working with people who have knowledge,» he says.
One of the last clashes between the two was the oil and gas reserves report, which would ensure that the resources would reach 2037 and on which it would be decided not to sign more exploration and production contracts. Vice Minister Ruiz has confirmed on several occasions that the study has technical, economic and methodological problems and does not have bibliographic references. «I did not know the report, nor was I consulted for its preparation,» she reiterated.
In addition, he says that he has proof that Vélez lied and that he presented it later. «Yes, he lied because the Hydrocarbons Directorate, which belongs to what was my office, in a WhatsApp communication told him the problems with the document,» he told Cambio.
This theory is confirmed by Camilo Rincón, who was director of Hydrocarbons until January 11 of this year. He expressed that the Ministry of Mines did not accept his corrections to the balance of reserves and that «the formulators and structurers of the document must be the ones who explain the methodologies and data used.»
President Gustavo Petro demonstrated the resignation of Belizza Ruiz.
Ministry of Mines and Energy
One of the great concerns of the oil sector is the government’s decision not to award more contracts. However, after the controversy over the study, Minister Vélez said last week that «if there is other information in a year, surely the president (Gustavo Petro) will make other decisions.»
Likewise, they pointed out that with the 381 that are currently in exploration and production, the energy transition that is desired can be made.
From the Colombian Association of Oil and Gas (ACP) They stated that this balance was a «superficial analysis» that does not include the macroeconomic and fiscal component, the financing of the regions and productive transformation, especially in the oil areas.
New motion?
From Congress they have been insisting that Minister Vélez must resign, considering that what happened with the report is “very serious”. “The minister manipulated a report to deceive Colombians and justify the suspension of oil exploration. Minister, do not lie anymore, do not improvise. For the good of our country, resign once and for all,» said the senator. David Luna, of Radical Change.
And from Uribism they point out that if the senior official does not leave her position, they are ready to hold a new debate on a motion of censure. This was announced by the senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, who commented that Vélez “has finished the trial period. Clearly it failed. The country’s fiscal sustainability and energy sovereignty are at risk. I invite all the benches to unite in a motion of no confidence against the minister. It’s time,” she commented.
Juan Espinal, representative of the Chamber of the Democratic Center, also assured that if he does not resign, they will file a lawsuit for the alleged crime of falsifying a public document and impersonation.
Vélez already faced a vote of no-confidence debate in the House of Representatives last year, but government allies came together to defend her, for which the motion was scuttled.
