Correa will decide if Ecuador will keep the Yasuni ITT project

Rafael Correa

Yesterday, the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, said that between the end of June and the beginning of July  he will decide if  the Yasuní ITT project will continue, in order  to leave the oil in a part of the Amazon land or if they shall  proceed to “a responsible exploitation”.

Six years ago Correa proposed the initiative to leave underground reserves of more than 800 million barrels of oil from the fields Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini (ITT), located in the Yasuni National Park, an area of the Amazon.

The head of State indicated that once the revision of this environmental project, was carried out,  which is scheduled for next month, he will make a decision according to the needs of the people.

Correa also criticized  the people who claim that if the oil of the blocks included in the Yasuni is extracted, the entire area that comprises almost a million hectares, can be affected.

“If the ITT is properly exploited, it will only affect 200 hectares of the one million hectares, is not all or nothing, as other groups say” said the President, noting that “sensible and responsible” measures should be taken.

The project Yasuní ITT, would avoid the emission into the atmosphere of 407 million tons of carbon dioxide, generated with the combustion of the hydrocarbon.