The chair ‘hot and unstable’
Ecuadornews:
It is a complex charge. The state-owned company Petroecuador premiered, on Tuesday, the new general manager. Marcelo Proaño, formerly Transport Manager, is the third head during the Government of Lenin Moreno. Their predecessors denounced acts of corruption and left soon after these observations.
The last case was that of Carlos Tejada. He spoke with EXPRESO days before his surprise removal and spoke, for example, of one hundred workers separated from the institution, in his ten-month management, for acts of corruption. He also mentioned the accounts payable accumulated by the Government of Moreno with the public company and the irregular works and overprices built by Rafael Correa and his team of strategic sectors.
A similar fate ran the general manager who named President Moreno. Byron Ojeda held the position for a few months but, during his administration, the irregularities around the Esmeraldas Refinery were evident. Along with the still minister of Hydrocarbons Carlos Perez, they explained the faults that had the replenished -and costly- work that exhibited the former Vice President, currently imprisoned, Jorge Glas.
Ojeda was also instrumental in the publication of the inadequate management of the oil presales. He announced a rapprochement with the companies Petrotailandia, Petrochina and Unipec to renegotiate the harmful contracts that were signed in the government of Rafael Correa.
In November, Ojeda announced a press conference to explain the scope of the renegotiation. Hours before the meeting with the media, he was removed from his post.
Finally, the contracts were reviewed eight months later.
Instability in general management is not the only problem facing the official who accepts the appointment. There is also a curtain of corruption. Three of the ex-managers prior to Tejada and Ojeda are in prison for overpricing, bribes and misuse of public resources.
Marco Calvopiña, who signed several pre-sales of crude oil to China, Carlos Pareja Yannuzzelli and Álex Bravo, who are behind the failed repowering of the Esmeraldas Refinery, continue to be arrested and amass sentences.
With this background, the future of Marcelo Proaño seems questionable. Above all, because in a statement issued by Petroecuador it is made clear that it is a temporary replacement.
In addition, according to this newspaper, yesterday the resignation of all area managers of the public oil company was requested. This could delay new sales of crude oil in the spot market (by bidding) and other investments that Tejada and his team had.
Irregularities
Loans
EXPRESO published, on Monday, the new loans that the Government has with the oil company. The amount amounts to 600 million dollars for liquidity operations.
Presales
This week the new oil presales contracts with China would be signed. The documents have changes that improve the situation for Ecuador.
Unity
Last week, Petroecuador inaugurated its anti-money laundering unit. The team has the backing of the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit. (I)
Source: http://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/petroecuador-deudas-gobiernoecuador-presupuesto-FF2272034