Ecuador Does Deal With Communities

Ecuador has reached a deal with protesters in the oil-rich Amazon region to end a three-day protest that cost the country $2 million in revenue.

Earlier this week dozens of villagers in the Shushufindi region in the Sucumbios province blocked roads leading to key oil fields operated by Petroecuador. The company said the blockage prevented workers and needed fuel to reach oil facilities.

The state oil company, Petroecuador said in a statement that its daily output was down to 155,364 barrels on Thursday from last week’s average of 174,124 barrels. It said it will take eight days to reach normal production levels.

In reaching the deal, government negotiators agreed to some of the villagers’ demands for more jobs.

It’s a common theme the globe over with the oil industry – local communities demanding a slice of the action…. Now why is that???