General News

EPM Slams Antioquia Gov. Luis Perez Over Hidroituango, ‘Blacklisting’ Claims

Medellin Herald October 2, 2018

In an October 2 press conference, EPM general manager Jorge Londoño de la Cuesta contradicted new claims made by Antioquia Governor Luis Perez over supposed contractor errors or negligence surrounding the troubled “Hidroituango” hydroelectric power project in Antioquia. Gov. Perez claims that

Congresses & Conferences

Massive Electric-Vehicle Adoption Would Slash Pollution: Medellin EV Conference

Medellin Herald September 27, 2018

More than 500 attendees from 11 nations attending the “Second International Conference on Electric Mobility” in Medellin September 25-26 heard from dozens of international and national experts on the need to speed-up the nascent adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) here. Such an acceleration of EV adoption would slash air pollution, improve public health, reduce

Events

How to Celebrate 5th Annual Medellin Bird Festival October 3-8, 2018

Medellin Herald September 19, 2018

The Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitologia (SAO, the Medellin ornithological society) announced September 19 that the fifth annual “Festival de las Aves de Medellin” will take flight October 3 to October 8. All local Festival programs — including lectures by national and international experts, special learning workshops and guided, local bird walks — are

General News

Medellin’s ‘Regional Norte’ Highway Wins Debottlenecking Project Finance

Medellin Herald September 14, 2018

The Antioquia departmental government (Gobernacion de Antioquia) and the Area Metropolitana del Valle de Aburra (AMVA, the association of Medellin regional governments) announced September 13 that financing has been secured for a major debottlenecking project of the “Regional Norte” highway between Medellin, Bello and Copacabana. The current highway suffers huge traffic

Congresses & Conferences

‘Expotravel,’ ‘Expocamacol’ Shows Boost Medellin and Colombia for Business, Nature, Cultural Tourism

Medellin Herald September 6, 2018

Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (“MinCit”) announced September 5 that the “Colombia Travel Expo 2018” at the Hotel Intercontinental in Medellin this week is seen generating at least COP$15 billion (US$4.8 million) in immediate business deals. Meanwhile, the recently concluded “Expocamacol” building-construction trade show at Medellin’s Plaza Mayor

General News

Update: EPM Reveals Assumptions About Hidroituango Financial-Recuperation Plan

Medellin Herald September 3, 2018

Medellin-based multinational electric-power giant EPM on September 9 revealed in a presentation to the Medellin City Council key financial assumptions about its proposed sale of assets and other measures to cover losses arising from the Hidroituango hydroelectric project diversion-tunnel collapse. “Among other issues, we highlight that in the case of the Hidroituango

Professional services

Personal/Corporate Due-Diligence, Business-Deal, Real-Estate Investigator Konfirma Reports 45% Growth, Offers Bilingual Services

Medellin Herald August 29, 2018

Medellin-based, national corporate-and-individual risk-management, due-diligence and real-estate investigator Konfirma announced August 29 that its first-half (1H) 2018 revenues grew 45% year-on-year — and the company expects full-year 2018 revenues to rise about 40% year-on-year. In an August 29 interview with Medellin Herald, Konfirma general manager Sergio

Companies

Colanta, Proleche Among Antioquian Companies Winning Dairy Exports to Mexico

Medellin Herald August 28, 2018

Colombia’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MinCIT) announced August 28 that Antioquian milk-products producers Colanta and Proleche are among 11 companies that just won certifications and approvals to export certain dairy-based products to Mexico. MinCIT, ProColombia and Invima collectively worked to open Mexico’s doors to Colombian milk products from 13 newly

General News

Update: Controller-General Claims Hidroituango Crisis Arose From Insufficient Studies, Planning, Controls

Medellin Herald August 26, 2018

Colombia’s Controller-General on August 25 unveiled a 442-page report finding that recent problems with the US$5 billion, 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric project in Antioquia are the result of insufficient technical studies, planning and regulatory controls. The Controller’s report is especially critical of Colombia’s environmental licensing agency (Agencia

Companies

Update: Moody’s, Fitch Both Confirm EPM’s Investment-Grade Rating Despite Hidroituango Issues

Medellin Herald August 25, 2018

Wall Street bond rater Fitch announced September 12 that it has decided to maintain its “AAA (col)” investment-grade rating for Medellin-based multinational electric power giant EPM — but issued a cautionary “negative” outlook. The Fitch decision follows in the wake of fellow Wall Street bond rater Moody’s, which last month likewise maintained an