Protests expand in Peru's oil-producing Amazon region
Protests expand in Peru's oil-producing Amazon region
Source: Reuters - Wed, 2 Sep 2015 18:47 GMT
LIMA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Demonstrators in the Peruvian Amazon barricaded streets, hurled stones at local businesses and burned at least one vehicle to protest the government's decision to award a Canadian company a license to tap the country's largest oil block.
The protesters, led by the region's governor, want the government to repeal its recently inked contract with Pacific Exploration and Production Corp and transfer control of block 192 to state-owned Petroperu.
"The only thing foreign companies have done is pollute and foment distrust among local populations," said Fernando Melendez, governor of the Amazonian region Loreto. "We don't see any benefits and remain an impoverished region."
The oil field has been developed for more than 40 years, most recently by Pluspetrol, an Argentine company whose contract expired Aug. 29.
More:
http://www.trust.org/item/20150902184814-2n6t9/