Ecuadorians have voted to halt oil production in an emblematic field in the Yasuni Amazon reserve in eastern Ecuador. During a referendum organized this Sunday, August 20 in parallel with early general elections, Ecuadorian voters said yes by 58.99% to the cessation of production.
A majority of Ecuadorians have voted to halt oil production at an iconic field in the Yasuni Amazon reserve in eastern Ecuador. In a referendum held on Sunday alongside a snap general election, voters said 58.99% yes to halting “Block 43” production, according to the latest results released Monday morning and, for sure, 93 % of valid ballots.
$16.47 billion loss over 20 years
Called for by an environmental group for ten years, this national consultation was finally authorized last May by the highest court in the country. It was to decide the future of the Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini (ITT) block, known as “block 43”, from which 12% of the 466,000 barrels/day produced in Ecuador are extracted. The government, which opposed this consultation, estimated the losses at 16.47 billion dollars over 20 years if the block was revoked.
A unique biodiversity reserve, the Yasuni extends over nearly a million hectares of humid and primary forest. It is also an indigenous land: historic territory of the Waorani, the Yasuni is also home to the Kichwa, as well as the Tagaeri, the Taromenane and the Dugakaeri, the last communities living in voluntary isolation in Ecuador and fleeing modern civilization. The public company Petroecuador was until now authorized to intervene on some 300 hectares of Yasuni. She says she barely used 80 hectares. “Today, Ecuador has taken a giant step to protect life, biodiversity, and indigenous peoples” celebrated on the X network (ex-Twitter) the two main indigenous organizations in the country, the Confeniae and the Conai.