Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa was in charge of communicating the decision.

Ecopetrol and Petrobras have requested this Thursday to challenge the court decision ordering the "immediate" halt of gas exploration in the Uchuva 2 well, in the Tayrona Block, in the Colombian Caribbean, which both companies began drilling at the end of June.

The oil companies have thus joined the Government of Gustavo Petro, which through the Ministry of Mines and Energy also opted to challenge this judicial ruling that affects until a consultation process is carried out with the Taganga indigenous community, which must also be of immediate nature.

Ecopetrol President Ricardo Roa has been in charge of communicating the decision to challenge the court order, which they have taken with the aim of being able to reactivate the activity they have been carrying out in this exploratory block since its discovery in the middle of this year.

"We hope that the court that has requested the revocation of this ruling will soon lead us to a decision. We are pleased with the Government's support in this endeavor," Roa said.

For Roa, the activity being carried out at Uchuva-2 is "key" to guaranteeing energy security in Colombia and to having the natural gas reserves that the country needs in the coming years. "There are many expectations surrounding this discovery," he said.

The Ecopetrol official has argued that the exploration of this well is at all times respectful of the communities that could be impacted, within the framework of its social responsibility, and that it "rigorously" complies with all laws, rules and regulations related to the development of these projects.

"This project has been developed safely, with respect for human life and the environment, taking due diligence into account and in accordance with the environmental license, certifications and permits of the competent authorities," he said.