Esmeraldas will demand oil contributions with signatures of support

Ecuadornews:

The authorities of Esmeraldas support the request to reform the Hydrocarbons Law for the delivery of oil contributions to meet the demand for works in the province.

Through the collection of signatures, undefined, support is requested to have economic benefits for the refining that is done in the largest industrial complex in the country, as well as with the Amazonian provinces where it is extracted.

The reform project was made by Assemblywoman Rina Campaín (CREO), before the Legislative, and was released at an assembly convened on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the Chamber of Commerce of Esmeraldas.

According to Campaín, in March of this year, the Assembly approved the Special Organic Law of the Special Amazon Territorial Circumscription, which in economic matters gave way to the creation of the Eco-development Fund for the Amazon.

Through this agency, more contributions will be received after the increase of USD 1 to 2 per barrel, which would imply an income of USD 200 million to 400 for the Amazon region, destined for potable water, roads and sewerage.

“In Esmeraldas oil has been refined for 41 years and exported by the SOTE (state) and OCP (private), and we have no fixed contribution to address the basic work problems that persist in the province,” he said.

Líder Altafuya, vice-prefect of Esmeraldas, who participated in the Assembly. Currently the project follows its regular procedure in the Economic and Tax Committee of the Assembly, and it is expected to insist on its analysis, once it returns from the legislative vacancy.

 The order was already known, according to Altafuya, both by the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Economy, who initially indicated that Esmeraldas has been met with the investment in works in the neighborhoods surrounding the Refinery, but a permanent contribution is required.

The deputy mayor of Esmeraldas, Cecilia Angulo, explained that Article 274 of the Constitution says that: Decentralized autonomous governments in whose territories natural resources are exploited or industrial non-renewable will have the right to participate in the income received by the State for this activity, according to the law.

For that reason, Angulo said, will join the process of collecting signatures to go in committee to the National Assembly to ask the Legislative to approve the reforms and the Executive defines how much will be the contribution for the refining of Petroleum for Esmeraldas and Santa Elena.

The Provincial Chamber of Tourism, represented by Víctor Orellana, as well as the transportation associations and the pro-rector of the Catholic University of Esmeraldas, Aitor Urbina, joined the signature collection work.

According to Urbina, there are serious problems caused by pollution derived from oil industrialization, and there are no means to improve health care, education and productive development. The first cut to know how many signatures of support have been achieved will be made in the next 15 days, where there will be a new assembly to schedule a visit to the Legislature. (I)

Source: https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/recoleccion-firmas-aportes-petroleros-esmeraldas.html