Ecuador will send a message to the international community to protect the Amazon from the climate crisis national consultation proposing the suspension of oil extraction from Block 43-ITTone of the main sites in the country, as predicted by the prefect of the Amazonian province of Pastaza, André Granda.
The provincial government expressed its support for voting ‘for’ the termination of operation of block 43-ITT, which produces about 55,000 barrels of oil per daywhich is equivalent to 11% of national production, which is about 480,000 barrels.
Granda recalled that 40% of the Yasuní National Park is located in Pastaza, a protected area of one million hectares that also extends through the neighboring province of Orellana, where block 43-ITT is located, which The state company Petroecuador operates.
“For this reason, we raised the position in favor of ‘Yes’. ‘Yes’ in favor of life and ‘Yes’ in favor of Yasuní, because We believe that it is a unique treasure not only of the Amazon but also of the whole worldGrande pointed out.
The prefect remembered that seven indigenous nationalities inhabit its provinceamong them the Waorani, the most numerous people living in Yasuní, and who all demonstrated together in favor of stopping the work of block 43-ITT, a position supported by the provincial government.
Granda claimed that You can find more biodiversity in just one hectare of Yasuní than in the entire United States and Canadawhich makes it a “very special” area not only for Ecuador but for the entire Amazon Basin.
“As Ecuadorians, we have a duty to protect that biodiversity,” Granda said, arguing that “It is such a fragile and megadiverse area and ecosystem that as Ecuadorians we cannot really allow exploitation to continue in this block.“.
Granda felt that this consultation on Block 43-ITT should be used as it’s time for all of Ecuador to start discussing its post-oil future and propose lifestyle and economic alternatives.
“It is clear to us that the potential for development has nothing to do with what is under the ground, already The real wealth of Yasuní is in the land and all that the jungle has to offer through the bioeconomybiotrade and saving culture to encourage tourism,” said Granda.
In this sense, the prefect warned that, if the result of the consultation is favorable, the message that Ecuador will send to the international community will be accompanied by an invitation, especially to the northern countries, to become co-responsible for the effort Ecuador is making to put oil aside.
Although other sites such as Blocks 16, 31 and 67 have also been operating within Yasuní since the 1980s, query is limited to 43 onlyas a result of the initiative of the environmental group Yasunidos, which managed to implement a plebiscite after a legal battle that lasted 10 years.
According to Petroecuador, the damage to the state will be 1200 million dollars a year in profitability and about 13.8 billion dollars in 20 years, if the barrel remains at 66 dollars, while environmentalists believe that this will be a smaller amount that can be compensated by applying a wealth tax.
Source: Panama America
I am Jason Root, author with 24 Instant News. I specialize in the Economy section, and have been writing for this sector for the past three years. My work focuses on the latest economic developments around the world and how these developments impact businesses and people’s lives. I also write about current trends in economics, business strategies and investments.
