The The company Petrolia (formerly Repsol), which was in charge of blocks 16–67 until December 31, threatened the Minister of Energy, Fernando Santos, with criminal charges. if he does not withdraw some statements made in the radio interview World FM, which would affect his reputation. He gives you 72 hours for that. The deadline started on April 13.

That day, the lawyer Felipe Rodríguez Moreno sent a letter to Minister Santos informing that it is Rodríguez & León Law Firm was hired by Petrolia Ecuador SA to initiate criminal proceedings regarding the minister’s statements which he described as “deplorable, unnecessary, unfounded and false”.

According to the testimony of Rodríguez’s lawyer, the minister referred to the unfortunate events that took place in blocks 16 and 67, where crimes of sabotage, paralysis of public services, intimidation, among others, were committed. He also said that Santos indicated that “behind those crimes, either as an instigator or financier, would be Petrolia Ecuador SA, through representatives, which implies imputing them as indirect perpetrators.”

However, It is also mentioned that Article 182 of the Comprehensive Penal Code (COIP) states that “there shall be no criminal liability if the author of defamation voluntarily withdraws before there is an enforceable judgment”. In this regard, Rodríguez asked the minister to withdraw and clarify that there is no indication, proof or evidence that Petrolia or its representatives encouraged or financed the attacks that took place last week. This, he said, would absolve him of criminal responsibility in Ecuador. But he warned that in Canada, where this company is from, “it will reduce its liability for damages in the trial that it will have to face as a natural person in case it does not correct its baseless words in the next deadline”. 72 hours.” If they fail to do so, the minister is ordered to submit evidence for his alleged claims.

Santos said on April 6 in an interview with IMF World about gun attacks carried out by members of the Waorani community, that it is unfortunate that such acts of violence occur. He also noted that no agreement was reached with this community, due to the intransigent attitude of the new community president of the Waorani community, Juan Bay, that he indicated that Petrolia should get the concession for block 16 again. This was because the Waorani were interested in getting several benefits offered by Petrolia in case they were in charge of the block, but this cannot be repeated by Petroecuador, the company that now manages the block.

The minister said his response to the Waorani petition was “If this is not possible, you can’t give a finger” oil block under concession and that the contract ended on December 31, 2022. He also explained that an offer would be made for this block, but that the native representative Juan Bay was not convinced.

He literally said: – I would not like to say that the company is late, but it seems to me that someone is moving them. He also pointed out that the Ministry talked to the leaders of Petrolia and they said that they had nothing to do with these problems; However, he expressed: “but they leave doubts.” Elsewhere in the radio conversation, the minister commented: “I don’t know what role Petrolia plays, I don’t want to accuse him, but two plus two is four: if they defend the company so much, they must have some love.”

The announcement of a criminal lawsuit is given when problems with the Waorani community are already outnumbered. On April 11, residents of the Waorani community in Dicaro raised the interruption they maintained in the areas of influence of blocks 16 and 67, in the province of Orellana, since December 25, according to Petroecuador.

The state company assures that the cancellation of the measure is in accordance with the agreements reached during the dialogue held on Monday, April 10, between representatives of the community and the authorities of Petroecuador, the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Government of Orellana and other institutions.

On the same day of the dialogue, Petroecuador reported that the daily production average fell to 50% in the aforementioned blocks “as a result of vandalism caused by groups outside the oil operation that affected the facilities.”