A few minutes ago, a de facto measure was reported by members of the Boca Tiputini Kichwa community in Block 43 (Yasuní ITT). Several members of this community were present at the front door of the Tiputini Processing Center.
With shouts and posters, they made it known that they are against the closure of that block, which they believe is beneficial to their business. The decision to close block 43, which produces 58,000 barrels per day, came after a positive opinion was obtained at a public hearing on August 20, meaning the majority accepted that oil from the block should remain onshore.
Residents presented demands in the sense that the majority of votes against are in their jurisdiction, that is, that the oil does not remain in the field and that the exploitation continues. This morning they said that 90% of the residents of Aguarico, for example, were against the consultation.
On this topic, the Minister of Energy, Fernando Santos Alvite, commented that there is indeed concern, especially among the residents of the province of Orellana, about the imminent closure of the block. However, the oil authorities admitted that “the will of the people decided so”. In any case, he said that he will explain to the citizens – who experienced their way of life in the center of this activity – that they will look for ways not to lose income.
He explained that currently crude oil is being produced normally in that area, since it has a year to break it down. However, in the meantime, a special commission is being established that will analyze the project task according to which experts should be hired for the dismantling of oil installations.
Efforts will be made to implement this closure in the most orderly and least traumatic way possible, always in harmony with the communities and ensuring that they will not be left without livelihoods.
He reminded that it will be an unprecedented problem, since a field in full production has never been dismantled before. He emphasized that this type of process will produce large costs for the state and that the cost of abandonment is calculated between 500 and 600 million dollars. In addition, he commented that funding for this will be a task for the next government.
Various groups have mentioned among the possibilities to fill the gap that the non-production of crude oil will leave in the ITT: more taxes for the richest sectors, withdrawal of fuel subsidies, that the international community supports the initiative to leave crude oil on land, with a green background.
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Source: Eluniverso
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