In 2025, we continued working with the communities neighboring our operations. The impact is reflected not only in the number of people reached, but also in the pride and satisfaction expressed by those who took part.

The year that has just ended was, once again, an opportunity to contribute to the communities closest to our operations. Alongside Tecpetrol’s long-standing programs, a wide range of initiatives were carried out, each tailored to the specific needs of the locations where we work. In this article, we share a selection of these actions and their impact.

Building bridges through dialogue

In Colombia, 2025 brought the challenge of building ties with the community of Cuernavaca, lying in the municipality of Puerto Gaitán, in the Department of Meta—and located very close to a platform where the decision was taken to commence drilling at the end of 2024. Catalina Echeverri, CORE Manager, explains that in this project, known as Pendare 66, “the community had strong concerns about water preservation. After many meetings and open dialogue, we were able to understand each other and move forward with the work,” she recalls.

A new challenge soon followed. The Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) team identified the need to invest in building a truss, a piece of bridge-like infrastructure, to support a flow line passing over environmentally sensitive wetlands known as morichales. Although there were local companies eager to take on the project, the highly specific technical requirements meant that it was particularly complex. After extensive coordination, an agreement was reached: a local enterprise run by a businesswoman from Puerto Gaitán would carry out part of the work, while a specialized supplier from Bogotá would deliver the most critical components.

“There were some tense moments along the way, but thanks to the close collaboration between Operations, Facilities, CORE and Procurement, we managed to overcome the many obstacles and find new ways of working with local businesses,” explains Catalina. She adds that, “in Colombia, the role of the CORE team is becoming more and more relevant, as engagement with communities has a direct impact on our operations.”

The joy of studying

Darwin Vega, CORE Specialist, explains that in 2025, at its operations in the Libertador field in Ecuador, the company developed a comprehensive education program that reached 161 students and 50 teachers. Roberto Rocca Secondary School Scholarships were awarded to students in recognition of their efforts and academic merit, while 18 university students pursuing technical degrees were able to renew their higher education scholarships.

As part of the Technical Gene initiative, Tecpetrol specialists visited local schools to give technical talks and hold training sessions for teachers and school heads. The program also included donations of equipment and infrastructure improvements to the electromechanical workshop at the Pacayacu Educational Unit.

“The volunteers involved in this program always value the chance to give back,” Darwin emphasizes. “It also changes how they see their everyday work, because they get to witness the real impact we have on people’s lives. When someone from the communities where we operate gains access to higher education, it can truly transform their future.”

The science of play and wonder

Ludwig Bonilla, CORE Analyst, explains that at the Pesquería Power Plant, “our aim was to spark curiosity and a genuine interest in science and technology among preschool and primary school students in our community.” With that goal in mind, the team rolled out a series of activities throughout the year.

Reading workshops were held at two nearby primary schools, where pupils were each given a book to take home. As for the teachers, the session Educating through Surprise and Wonder: Practical Tools, brought together local 28 educators, sharing new ideas and classroom strategies to put into practice.

The year wrapped up with EnergizaTec, two events hosted at local primary schools where each pupil got to carry out their own science experiment as well as enjoy an interactive science show. Each school also received a new library stocked with more than 250 books.

Life skills

In northwest Argentina, 18 women from the Chané indigenous community neighboring the Durán field learned how to make the football kits that the children’s team needed in order to take part in local tournaments. Luciana Fernández, CORE Senior Analyst, explains that before, Tecpetrol used to donate the uniforms—until the team decided to take a different approach by setting up a textile workshop.

There, the women were given fabric, sewing materials and patterns. They learned not only how to make the garments but also about the basics of production and sales. “The idea is to give them the knowledge they need to help them build their own income-generating ventures,” says Luciana. “They started with football shirts, and now they’re already making sweatshirts, jackets, trousers and school smocks. It’s a great opportunity to put their skills into practice.”

In nearby Coronel Cornejo, a Home Electricity Workshop brought together 21 members from the community. “This type of training opens doors very quickly,” points out Luciana. “There are always electrical problems here and never enough skilled people to solve them.” At the end of the course, participants took an exam and those who passed received certificates from the National University of Salta (UNSa). “Some members of the group hadn’t even finished high school, so receiving a certificate backed by a university made them super proud and happy with what they had achieved.”

"When faith moves mountains"

In the Neuquén Basin, the exhibition held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Neuquén featured one of the most talked-about art happenings of the century. The show revisits an iconic project by artist Francis Alÿs, who invited 500 volunteers to form a line as they wielded shovels to move a massive dune spanning some 400 meters. The story of this endeavor was documented in photographs, posters, paintings and videos and can be appreciated in the exhibition When Faith Moves Mountains (2002). Two Decades Later.

The exhibition was organized in partnership with Fundación PROA and PROA21 and welcomed Cuauhtémoc Medina, curator of the original work and a leading voice on the international art scene. During his visit, he gave talks and met with students from the School of Fine Arts.

Andrea Fernández, CORE Manager, explains that this exhibition “gave the community the chance to experience an internationally renowned work up close, something that hadn’t happened at the museum for quite some time.” She adds that, “It also helps amplify the local community here in Neuquén, as we know its cultural life is vibrant and very meaningful.”

Close to home for growth

In Salta, Alpha Lithium has been running an inclusion and scholarship support program for the past three years, designed together with the Fundación Cimientos and Fundación Anpuy in the Department of Los Andes, a region with a high teenage suicide rate. The initiative provides financial assistance in addition to close, ongoing support from a social worker who follows each student’s progress and works with their families as well as schools and local health services. The goal is to help students stay in school and complete their education, providing the socio-emotional support that is so needed in this area.

“We feel deeply committed to this kind of support,” says María del Milagro Barrios, CORE Senior Supervisor. “Through our education programs, we want to help each young person as much as possible to grow, which is why we stay so closely involved with each one. In 2025, we awarded seven scholarships and, in 2026, we plan to expand the program even further.”

In both Jujuy and Salta, a Literacy Program was rolled out in partnership with Fundación Leer. The initiative included teacher training and the delivery of reading materials for preschool, primary and secondary schools. “The surveys we ran highlighted some really positive feedback,” María del Milagro adds. “The teachers told us they were impressed not only by the quality of the materials but also by the quantity. They told us that it’s hard for them to access books and educational tools like the ones we gave them.”