QUITO, March 19 (Reuters) - Ecuador's state-owned oil
and gas company, Petroecuador, said on Sunday it would declare
force majeure on its Eden Yuturi oil field in the eastern part
of the country, amid a conflict with a local community.
In recent weeks, the Kichwa Indigenous community of Eden has
protested what it alleges is the company's breaching of
agreements.
The state company said in a statement it is taking the
measure due to "situations that affect the normal development of
operational activities, as a consequence of the paralysis of the
El Eden Kichwa community, since last February 21."
"The length of this declaration of force majeure will be
subject to the definition or agreements reached by government
entities with the communities," it added.
The firm added that the situation will have an impact on
production, without specifying details.
Petroecuador's Block 12, where the Eden Yuturi oil field is
located, produces around 29,200 barrels per day (bpd) of crude
out of the 390,446 bpd that Petroecuador produces in total.
In mid-2021 the field was also under a force majeure
declaration due to conflicts with the same community.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia in Quito
Writing by Fabián Andrés Cambero in Santiago; Translation by
Jackie Botts in Mexico City
Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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