BOGOTA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Colombia's national

environmental licensing agency (ANLA) on Friday said it has

awarded an environmental license to Anadarko Colombia Company, a

subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ), to carry out oil and

gas exploration in the country's Caribbean waters.

The exploration will take place in Block Col-1, the ANLA

said in a statement, where Environment Minister Susana Muhamad

said the license was awarded following "a rigorous evaluation."