On Friday, Argentine oil company Pluspetrol told
the press that the oil wells and airfield of Lot 8 are being occupied by a group
of people supposedly unconnected to the local indigenous communities. This
outside group took control of the facilities by force on September 2nd,
preventing the extraction of almost 50,000 barrels of oil per day.
Pluspetrol added, “This situation started under the pretext
of supporting the strike organized in Loreto over the adjudication of Lot 192
to Petroperú, but despite the fact that the strike was lifted, this group
continues to perpetrate criminal acts through force against the [Lot 8]
installations.”
The debate and uncertainty over Lot 192 continues. On
Thursday, Peruvian business journal La
Republica interviewed Peruvian vice president Marisol Espinoza about the
bill passed by the Peruvian Congress placing Petroperú in charge of operating
Lot 192. Vice President Espinoza defended the bill and rejected criticisms that
it violates the Peruvian constitution and undermines contract law. She
described the law as “removing the straight jacket” that had prohibited
Petroperú from growing and supporting the economic development of Peru.
In mining-related news, the Peruvian armed forces carried
out another raid against illegal miners in the Madre de Dios region of
Peru. This raid resulted in the capture of two illegal miners and the
destruction of various machines and equipment used for illegal mining.
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