Over the last few weeks, community leaders, civil society
organizations, and the regional government in the Peruvian region of Loreto
have steadily ramped up their protests calling for the nationalization of
Peru’s most productive oil field, Lot 192. The protesters rejected the Peruvian
government’s recent decision to award operational control over the field to the
Canadian oil company Pacific Stratus Energy and vowed to continue protesting
until Peruvian state-owned oil company Perú-Petro was given control over the
field.
On Wednesday, national and international media outlets reported
on the expanding protests
in the Peruvian Amazon. Loreto governor Fernando Melendez told Reuters, “The
only thing foreign companies have done is pollute and foment distrust among
local populations. We don't see any benefits and remain an impoverished region.”
Protestors shut
down the regional capital of Iquitos, led and organized by the Patriotic
Front of Loreto.
The next day, the Peruvian government started shifting
its stance to meet the demands of the protestors. The Peruvian Commission for
Energy and Mines approved a proposal for Perú-Petro to administer Lot 192.
Peruvian officials disagreed about what this decision means for Lot 192.
Congressman Manuel Dammert told the press that “There are
new elements during the course of this debate. This lot is strategic. For the
national interest, it should be run by Petro-Perú. Without Lot 192, the Talara
Refinery will shut down. Today, Loreto celebrates, Talara celebrates, and the
whole country celebrates because today we have an integrated company to support
national energy security.”
However, Congressman Javier Bedoya reminded
the press that, under existing law, the Commission could not change a signed
contract. It still remains to be seen what will happen to Lot 192.
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