Community leaders could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sandra Maler)
6992; Reuters Messaging: rm://alexandra.valencia.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) QUITO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - An indigenous community in
Ecuador's Amazon region ended a weeks-long protest affecting
production at two oil blocks belonging to state-run energy
company Petroecuador, the company said on Wednesday.
The Waorani community of Dikaro, in Ecuador's Orellana
province, set up roadblocks on Christmas Day, demanding
reparations from the company for what it said was environmental
and social damage caused by the oil drilling, as well as more
services from authorities and consultation from the government.
Petroecuador took over the two oil blocks at the beginning
of the year, after Canadian firm New Stratus Energy returned its
concessions following a spat with the government.
The protest was lifted after several days of talks,
Petroecuador said, without specifying what conditions were
agreed upon for the community to end its demonstration.
Petroecuador said on Saturday that the Waorani community had
shut off a valve as part of the protest, causing an estimated
loss of around 3,500 barrels of oil per day (bpd). The community
denied it had shut off a valve.
In January, the blocks saw an output of around 14,036
barrels of oil equivalent (boe) per day.
"The lifting of the protest is expected to gradually allow
oil production to recover for the benefit of all Ecuadoreans,"
the state oil company said in a statement.
The Waorani community says the oil blocks fall within their
territory. Petroecuador says complaints from the Waorani
community began before it took over the blocks.
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