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

Events

Car-Crazy Cities On The Mend: Detroit and Medellin

Medellin Herald August 23, 2018

August is the month when both Medellin and Detroit celebrate classic cars — and the joyful return of positive vibes — via the “Desfile de Autos Clasicos” here and the gigantic “Woodward Dream Cruise” in Detroit.  Both events — August 11 here, August 18 in Detroit – draw millions of spectators and participants, although the […]

General News

University of Antioquia, EPM Team-Up On Biodiversity Projects Around Hydroelectric Dams

Medellin Herald August 4, 2018

Medellin-based utilities giant EPM announced July 3 that it signed a biodiversity project alliance deal with University of Antioquia (U-A) to study and protect birds and other wildlife affected by EPM’s hydroelectric dams – including the under-construction “Hidroituango” dam in Antioquia. According to EPM, the agreement with U-A “adds scientific, technical and

General News

‘Doble Calzada Oriente’ Would Dramatically Improve Traffic Between Medellin, Rionegro: Proponents

Medellin Herald August 1, 2018

Private-sector developers are stepping-up their push for the proposed “doble calzado oriente” (DCO) four-lane, divided highway between the Sancho Paisa roundabout on the Las Palmas highway (east of Medellin) and the international-airport highway adjacent to Hospital San Vicente Fundacion. In an August 1 public hearing near Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova (JMC) international

General News

EPM To Sell 10% ISA Stake, Chile Assets, Minor Shares to Cover Hidroituango Losses

Medellin Herald July 31, 2018

EPM general manager Jorge Londoño de la Cuesta announced in a July 31 press conference that the company will sell its 10% stake in power transmitter ISA and minority stakes in several other non-strategic companies — as well as its wholly-owned Chilean water and wind-power utilities — over the next six to 12 months. The […]

General News

Antioquia’s ‘Mar 2’ Highway Project Gets US$173 Million Loan OK from FDN

Medellin Herald July 27, 2018

Colombia’s Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional (FDN, a national development bank) announced July 25 that its board of directors approved a 17-year term loan of up-to-COP$500 billion (US$173 million) for the “Mar 2” highway project linking Medellin to current and future Atlantic ports. “The credit granted by the FDN represents 25% of the total financing of […]

Congresses & Conferences

Update: Colombiamoda 2018 Sales Deals Hit US$169 Million

Medellin Herald July 17, 2018

Medellin-based textile-fashion industry trade group Inexmoda reported July 26 that the just-concluded, 29th annual “Colombiamoda” show at Plaza Mayor generated sales deals worth US$169 million. While that was about 6% short of what organizers had initially hoped for this year’s edition, it’s nevertheless a generally positive sign, given relatively weak economic

General News

Biological Treasure House in Anori Gets a First-Ever Good Look

Medellin Herald July 17, 2018

Colombia’s science-investigation unit Colciencias announced July 16 that it’s teaming-up with government officials for a first-ever “BioExpedition” this month near Anorí, northeast Antioquia – an area forbidden to nature-lovers because of decades of FARC guerrilla violence. According to the announcement (see:

General News

EPM Making More Progress in Recovering Hidroituango Project

Medellin Herald July 12, 2018

EPM general manager Jorge Londoño de la Cuesta revealed in a July 11 press conference that engineers are making more progress in recovering the US$5 billion, 2.4-gigawatt “Hidroituango” hydroelectric dam project in Antioquia in the wake of a temporary emergency caused by a geological fault and a diversion-tunnel failure last May. Thanks to falling water […]

General News

International Hotel Chains Rapidly Expanding in Medellin, Antioquia

Medellin Herald July 11, 2018

Investment promotion agency Agencia de Cooperacion e Inversion de Medellin y el Area Metropolitana (ACI) announced July 10 that besides the under-construction, 220-room Hilton luxury hotel on Las Palmas and the recently completed, US$50 million Marriott hotel in El Poblado in Medellin, Antioquia soon will host another 34 new hotel projects in 2019. Citing statistics […]