The mayor of Aguarico (Orellana) He denied allegations that he was “promoting” the shutdown of the Ishpingo field oil well, located in block 43 of the ITT, located in the province.

“The mayor (Juan Carlos Orellana) is NOT promoting any stoppage of oil wells and public services in the Amazon region (sic),” an official statement clarified this Saturday, December 30, 2023.

The statement was made in response to the deputy minister’s comment government ministryEsteban Torres pointed out on his social network Just when all efforts were made to fulfill the tasks of the decentralized autonomous governments, the mayor of Aguarica in Orellana promotes the paralysis of oil wells that deprive Ecuador of about 25,000 barrels per day and resources for security and works” (sic) , wrote .

He called on State prosecutor act “with all rigor at this moment in the face of a flagrant crime in the paralysis of public services. The mayor has already been denounced. “The full weight of the law,” he said.

On December 28, the public company Petroecuador declared force majeure in the Ishpingo field, located in block 43 of the ITT, due to the strike that the Waorani Kawymeno community has been holding since December 25, demanding the non-respect of the agreement with the Ecuadorian state in favor of the indigenous community.

Petroecuador has been looking for ways to stop the protest, but without success.

The mayor’s office explained in its letter that the Kawymeno community believes that Petroecuador “has not fulfilled its social compensation obligations for hydrocarbon activities in the area, which is why it has decided to exercise the right to resistance provided for in Article 98 of the Constitution.” ».

He added that “it must be clear that the office of the mayor of the canton is coordinating with the authorities of Petroecuador and other government agencies for a possible solution to overcome this conflict that has arisen between the state oil company and the Waorani community of Kawymeno for the sacred welfare of the community and the entire country.

The state oil company declared force majeure based on technical and legal reports because the measure affects the normal development of operational activities, facilities and hydrocarbon infrastructure.

The estimate shows that the suspension has caused a reduction of about 17,000 barrels of oil per day since December 27, causing economic damage mainly due to the lack of availability of Napo crude for export and accrued contractual obligations.