LIMA, Oct 15 Reuters : Canada-based oil firm PetroTal Corp is hopeful to meet its plans to almost double the crude production in Peru this year despite protests by indigenous groups hitting a key pipeline in the country, the firm's general manager said on Friday.
Ronald Egusquiza told Reuters PetroTal was preparing to export its product to Brazil via the Amazon River, where it had done before in other conflicts, after protesters took over a pumping station of the state pipeline in Peru's Amazon region.
For 2021, Egusquiza expects to end with average production between 10,000 and 11,000 barrels of crude per day, Egusquiza said by telephone, a jump from 5,675 barrels per day last year.
He said: We have a whole investment program and we are betting on Peru, he said. PetroTal operates Lot 95 in the region of Amazon in Loreto, one of the largest in the country.
Indigenous protesters took over the arm of the state pipeline that transports oil from the north coast of the south American country to Loreto, demanding economic and social benefits for the communities in the region.
The Cabinet of leftist President Pedro Castillo has been in flux with a major cabinet reshuffle, which Egusquiza said has stalled the resolution of the conflict.
I think that's the main reason this situation has not yet been addressed directly, he said. Exporting through Brazil allows us to increase production, but eventually, if the pipeline does not close, it also affects production levels. Egusquiza said that he is holding talks with the government to go to the protest zone soon in order to solve the conflict.