Elizabeth Medina: “There are many interests and a campaign against Petroperú”

An opinion that ratifies Petroperú as the main administrator of the Talara oil blocks with contracts about to expire, in order to improve its vertical integration after 30 years of privatization, is pending debate in the plenary session of Congress.

— What is sought with the opinion approved by the Energy and Mines Commission?

— We seek to recover the Talara oil blocks and their resources in favor of the State. We have seen that more has been exploited, but current production does not exceed 40,000 barrels. The results have been disastrous.

— What would be the balance of these 30 years of privatization?

— There were no advances in exploration. Private companies have turned us into importers to meet all the country’s demand. It is serious because it makes us dependent on the international price of oil. After 30 years in the places (in the northwest) that I have visited, we have found a lot of poverty. In The tallFor example, they do not have basic services despite the fact that they said that with private investment for black gold there would be development.

— And would this scenario change by supporting Petroperú?

— Within the project we mentioned that a strategic partner has to be found because we see that the most affected by prices are carriers, housewives and the extreme poor. We want to level the prices so as not to be governed by the international price, having our resource in the batches even though they are a few kilometers from the refinery.

— And what is the feeling of the citizens of Talara regarding companies?

— The Chinese CNPC outsources its workers, and they earn approximately a basic of S/1,400. In it Lot X we see that more than 1,000 workers are outsourced, including in the core of the business. They are so abusive that they are not interested in improving the quality of life of their workers. In recent years, four workers have died on this lot. That says a lot about the Chinese company.

— What’s next now? What actions are you taking?

— Those who oppose the return of the oil wells in favor of Petroperú are mostly those on the right. I respect his ideals, but before that are the needs of the country. The problem will not be solved overnight. This is a process. I talked to a few colleagues and mentioned that we don’t have to be scared of going back to batches. It is a balanced project that seeks a strategic partner to seek further exploration. It is in the hands of my colleagues to change the landscape.

— Will they stabilize the lots?

– It’s not quite like that. When speaking of a strategic partner, we refer to support to carry out the benefit of oil wells.

— What do you think of the new government decision on lots?

— They should be fair and give (the State) 51%, because we must have the majority percentage to compete. I don’t know why they are regressing, I don’t understand them. The state has to have control, why do we have to give it more to the private sector?

— Apoyo and Fitch are in favor of the New Talara Refinery. How to take it?

— The undersigned is convinced that the business model of “vertical integration” it is the most appropriate for many business organizations, not only in hydrocarbons, but in businesses in many sectors; For this reason, in my original bill, the title indicates “return of oil lots to the State under the vertical integration approach.”

— And the cash flow?

— It is absolutely normal for any business to have tight liquidity ratios when operations have been closed to invest in a larger plant. Unfortunately, there are many interests, and there is a campaign against Petroperú based on the current liquidity, when they themselves know that this is a temporary situation. And, if you don’t believe it, read what was stated by the rating agency Fitch Ratings in an article dated April 14, in which they ensure that the completion of the Talara refinery “will drastically reduce capital investment after 2023; it will increase operational efficiency; and that predictable increases in profit margins should translate into better EBITDA.”

— You accused that CNPC moves tentacles and even placed Zeferino Yesquén in the presidency of Perupetro…

— I have a document from the Comptroller’s Office in which I mention that the same CNPC workers benefited from the management of Perupetro. Those same people who today demonize the return of oil lots in favor of the Peruvian State have worked for CNPC. The fate of our country is at stake here. It’s not that I don’t love private companies; I see some very responsible ones that can be strategic partners of Petroperú, but we don’t see that they want to do a good job.

— Fernando de la Torre, former general manager of Petroperú, denounced acts of corruption in the insurance purchased by the state company. Doesn’t it call into question integrity?

— I have always said that if there are acts of corruption, they must be investigated. That no one can object. However, it is essential to know where these voices come from. The Lord Of the tower He has been the general manager of the company in the era of Mr. Hugo Chávez, who is now in pretrial detention on charges of corruption for the sale of biodiesel. Let’s remember that during his administration, policies were implemented that brought Petroperú to the brink of bankruptcy. For this reason, it is outrageous that this man is the one who campaigns against Petroperú and that he is presented as a positive reference to give “lessons in good management of the oil company.”

— What would the background be?

— This corroborates that there are many interests in this topic. We will remain in our position in order to seek improvements in the quality of life of Peruvians.