Public Statement

Bogotá, Colombia – The New York Times article on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) contains a number of false allegations and factual inaccuracies about GeoPark’s partnership with the UNDP and its operations in Colombia. The agreement signed with the UNDP in Colombia focused on the economic recovery of seven municipalities, in response to requests from communities that suffered a profound economic slowdown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to criticism of the agreement by third parties (who were not beneficiaries of the project and whose territories are outside of GeoPark’s operations), the partnership unfortunately did not proceed. GeoPark is extremely proud of its strong track record on human rights and environmental protection, and have always sought to support its neighbors’ well-being and development as well as protect and conserve the environment.

Achieving this mission was at the center of the partnership with the UNDP, and despite that agreement not moving forward, GeoPark continue to work tirelessly with its partners, communities, and employees to uphold the Company’s values and make a positive and lasting impact for its stakeholders and the environment.

Based on a successful trajectory of two decades, the Company shares the following arguments that contradict the inaccurate statements contained in the article:

• The Company saw the UNDP as a suitable partner due to its high technical capacities and experience, with which it could support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and beneficiary communities could exercise their human rights.

• This campaign against the Alliance with the UNDP, which caused the cancelation of the partnership, ignored both the scope of the program and its benefits and deprived thousands of people in Casanare, Meta and Putumayo of projects that aimed to improve their quality of life. The challenging socio-economic situation faced by these regions because of the pandemic makes this outcome even more unfortunate.

• The Siona Buenavista Reservation was not among the beneficiaries of the partnership with UNDP. The beneficiaries were communities in the area of influence of operations in the Platanillo block, an area that is not part of the Siona Buenavista Reservation.

• Neither GeoPark nor its contractors are working or carrying out any activity in the territory of the Siona Buenavista Reservation, or in the additional territory that this Reservation has requested. Moreover, in February 2021 GeoPark officially requested Colombia’s National Hydrocarbons Agency to terminate the contract for the hydrocarbon block in that territory – Block PUT 12 – and the Company is waiting for that resolution.

• GeoPark has never had any relationship with illegal armed groups and demands the same of its employees and the entire supply chain. Any allegations to the contrary are simply false.

• The event before a British court was a terrorist act occurred in 2015 when the drivers of oil tankers transporting crude were forced to discharge their cargo. Notwithstanding this act of terrorism, the company took responsibility for the corresponding clean-up activities in the affected areas.

• GeoPark has always had a relationship based on dialogue, respect and building trust with its neighbors and stakeholders, and its work in Putumayo follows those same standards.

GeoPark is an open-door company that firmly believes that coordinating work with stakeholders is the basis for respecting and contributing to the effective enjoyment of human rights, in accordance with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. As such, the Company invites all interested parties to express their concerns by writing to co.info@geo-park.com or mcalero@geo-park.com. Replies will be made as soon as possible.

ABOUT GEOPARK

GeoPark is a leading independent Latin American oil and gas explorer, operator and consolidator with operations and growth platforms in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Chile. As part of its mission to “Creating Value and Giving Back,” the company develops sustainable social investment programs in conjunction with the State and local authorities and communities, which aim to promote positive changes in the areas in which it has activities.

For more information:

conexiones@geo-park.com