Page 15 - LatAmOil Week 39

LatAmOil PERU LatAmOil

PetroTal brings Bretaña field back online

CANADA’S PetroTal has resumed oil pro- stipulating that the government will allocate
duction at the Bretaña site in Peru’s Loreto $250mn for infrastructure projects, with $20mn
department. of the total going to the Loreto department.
In a statement dated September 30, PetroTal “This decree expedites the procurement pro-
reported that the oilfield had come back online cess to ensure all the allocated funds are properly
two days before. “[All] seven wells continue to deployed to maximise employment throughout
be gradually brought into full operation,” it said. all the communities,” PetrolTal noted.
Bretaña is now yielding about 11,000 barrels per Manuel Pablo Zuniga-Pflucker, the compa-
day (bpd) of crude, “approaching the pre-shut- ny’s president and CEO, expressed satisfaction
down level of 11,500 bpd,” it added. with recent developments. “PetroTal commends
PetroTal is now in a position to recommence the efforts of all parties in reaching a negotiated
shipments to the Iquitos oil refinery now that settlement that will ultimately benefit the indig-
the field is in production again, the statement enous communities, the Peruvian government
said. The company also expects to begin load- and all operating companies, including Petro-
ing crude into the state-controlled Northern Oil Tal,” he said. “On behalf of PetroTal, I would like
Pipeline (ONP) at the Saramuro pumping sta- to sincerely thank the PetroTal team for their
tion once barges arrive at the site, it noted. continued dedication during this period and
The company reported that the successful for their contribution towards this long-term
restart had taken place after the Peruvian gov- community funding solution. Our corporate
ernment had struck an agreement with indig- commitment is to ensure all stakeholders ben-
enous communities on increased funding. This efit from the Bretaña project, including the local
agreement, which aims to quell social unrest communities that support our company.”
exacerbated by the coronavirus (COVID- The Canadian company suspended produc-
19) pandemic, is spelled out in three separate tion at Bretaña in early August, after indigenous
announcements. protestors forced the shutdown of the ONP
The first of these is a presidential decree that pipeline and then entered a work camp near the
outlines plans for reducing income inequal- oilfield. This move resulted in a clash between
ity in impoverished indigenous communities. police and demonstrators that left three dead. ™
“PetroTal strongly supports this initiative, which
provides a six-year financial commitment of
approximately $1.7bn to support development
of the communities, of which $28mn will be
designated for economic development of the
local communities over the next four months,”
the statement said.
The second is a resolution from the prime
minister’s office that establishes a committee to
oversee state interventions in the Alto Amazo-
nas, Datem del Marañon, Loreto, Maynas and
Requena provinces of the Loreto department.
The committee will decide which projects are to
be funded under the presidential decree and will
appoint managers for these schemes.
The third is another presidential decree Chief prosecutor Saab outlined charges against a US citizen (Photo: VTV)

Guyana extends oil marketing tender

THE deadline for the submission of proposals for COVID-19, according to the local daily
for marketing the Guyanese government’s share Stabroek News.
of oil production has been extended to Septem- “A decision has been taken, due to unfore-
ber 29, owing to complications related to the seen circumstances, to extend the date of sub-
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. mission of the RFP [Request for Proposals],” the
The extension was granted last week after Department of Energy said in an update on its
the National Procurement and Tender Admin- Facebook page.
istration Board was forced to suspend its Minister of Natural Resources Vickram
operations after staff members tested positive Bharrat confirmed the delay.

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