PETROPERÚ evacuates station personnel due to the threat of taking over ONP facilities

Given the various announcements of forceful measures that include the seizure of facilities of the North Peruvian Pipeline (ONP), by indigenous organizations and communities located in the area of influence of this operation, PETROPERÚ proceeded to evacuate the personnel of stations 5 and 6 respectively, in order to safeguard its integrity.

As is known, the Committee for the Management of highways and indigenous peoples of the province of Condorcanqui, Amazonas Region, announced for this Friday, March 25, the seizure of the El Muyo hydroelectric plant, the blockade of the Bagua – Saramiriza highway and the seizure of the stations. 5 and 6 of the ONP, in order to pressure the Central Government to meet their demands.

Meanwhile, in the Loreto region, indigenous organizations have announced the paralysis of the oil circuit considering that there is no progress in complying with the Plan to close gaps in the Amazon and other measures of the Executive, around the protest demonstrations in the Lot 95.

Although the reasons for the announced forceful measures are due to demands at the different levels of government, they will be exercised against the PETROPERÚ facilities located in Amazonas (Station 6) and Loreto (Station 5), which is a direct threat to Workers.

Likewise, we must indicate that at Station 5, located in the district of Manseriche, province of Datem del Marañón in the Loreto region, crude oil and fuels are available in storage tanks, elements that constitute a great risk and danger if they contact sources of heat, generating unpredictable consequences.

Transport activity paralyzed

As is known, the ONP's transportation activity is suspended due to the execution of reinforcement works on the banks of the Chamaya River, since the torrential rains that occurred at the beginning of this month eroded the riverbed, causing the loss of the ONP right-of-way and leaving the pipeline exposed to high risk.

Due to this situation, PETROPERÚ began these works in six points of Section II of the ONP, within the framework of Supreme Decree No. 017-2022, by which twenty districts of the Cajamarca region were declared in emergency.

The respective tasks are also carried out in the environmental contingencies of km 59 - Section I and km 373 - Section II of the ONP, both caused by intentional cuts to the pipeline. In this sense, the stoppage of ONP activities will remain paralyzed for the duration of these works.

It should be remembered that the ONP is considered a National Critical Asset, and due to its operational location, it is vulnerable to all kinds of forceful measures by the protesters from the native communities to make their voice of protest reach the Peruvian State.

The operation of the ONP is strategic for the oil activity in the Amazon and basic support for private investments and operations, which benefits thousands of people by generating jobs directly and indirectly, as well as higher revenues from oil canons. For this reason, PETROPERÚ works to guarantee the integrity and safety of its operations.