Ecuador to Drill Park Unless World Pays
Published: 12/10/07, 9:05 PM EDT
By GONZALO SOLANO
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) - Ecuador will open bidding for a major oil project in a jungle nature reserve in June if the poor Andean country does not receive international funding to abandon the proposal, the oil minister said Monday.

The government is seeking a minimum of $350 million a year from the international community for 10 years not to drill in the Ishpingo-Tiputini-Tambococha fields located in Yasuni National Park, in Ecuador's northeastern jungle. The money is to compensate Ecuador for income it would have generated by drilling for oil at the site.

The jungle area, which holds close to 1 billion barrels of crude, is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Some environmentalists say the reserve has more varieties of plant life than the United States and Canada combined.

President Rafeael Correa has said Ecuador was not asking for the money as "charity" but as a way for the international community to recognize its "shared responsibility" for preserving Yasuni as a major source of biodiversity.

On Monday, Ecuadorean Oil Minister Galo Chiriboga told Teleamazonas TV that if the money is not collected by June 15, bidding on the fields will begin the following day.

"Either the international support not to drill is obtained or we go ahead with the auction," he said.

The proposal, announced by Ecuador earlier this year, has been praised by some environmentalists as an innovative way to compensate poor nations for not drilling.

"It's a real pioneer proposal for an oil exporter," Kevin Koenig of California-based environmental organization Amazon Watch told The Associated Press. "Ecuador is making a sacrifice to try to make this happen."

Ecuadorean environmental group Cedenma said it was skeptical of the government's intentions after Monday's announcement that it may open bidding.

"It again demonstrates to public opinion the government's intentions to cede once again before the (oil drilling interests) who definitively threaten Ecuador's natural ecosystems," the group said in a statement.

Earlier this year, state oil companies from China, Chile and Brazil expressed interest in presenting bids to drill in the fields.

Ecuador is South America's fifth-largest oil producer, with a daily production of around a half-million barrels of crude.

Hell they are probably drilling in secret already! Just trying to get more BUCKS out of the rest of the world.

Unfortunately NOTHING will EVER stop the money hu8ngry and the oil dependent world we live in.

I would back you up all the way if I thought there was at least a better than a snowball's chance in hell on the matter. but fact is, any "oil" issue is just a matter of time in this world.

You know I back you Fanta..but nothing we can do here.

Seems like a rational idea to me since the environmentally sensitive area's outcome affects us all.

You mean reasonable to pay them for not drilling???

Im open here guys.
I just dont like being given an ultimatum.

The future of the Earth is everyone's concern!

Yep, it is an environmentally sensitive area that should be protected. The UN should set up a fund for projects like this so more nature can be preserved.

Oh I agree, but they will drill no matter what. Its a simple matter of time.

it;s been long known that we have huge reserve pools of oil here in the states, but we buy from the other countries...why? they have the thought of we use up thier oil first...then we have what is left here.

they will drill in Alaska fields too. NOTHING is safe, because it involves MONEY and OIL = BIG MONEY! Why are we in Iraq now?? OIL (MONEY)!

Its as simple as that. Not to get "religious" but in the Bible it says what is fact.. "the LOVE of MONEY is the root of all evil". Man kills each other over it and destroys our world for it. Thats just the way it will always be.

Good idea!

Of course the US will probably ended up footing the bill. Dont we always!

Sorry bro, must disagree. It will be drilled at some point in time...no matter what. When they run out of oil elsewhere, they will give no choices.

And the U.N.? One of the biggest jokes and mistakes the USA ever made joining that group. All nothing but "politicians" designed to do a lot of chatter and do the least as possible. we don;t even get along with many of them and we do most of the monitary and troop support.

Sorry, not flamin..just issues involving our government and money..I already know the outcome...we as Americans get screwed and it just pisses me off.

your right about that!

You know we need a good alternative energy plan, and I dont mean corn.
If we can get the right man in office that would start a national effort similar to the space race, I bet we could lick the oil dependency in 5-10 years!
I personally think Hydrogen is the way to go!

Even with all the oil we dont touch, look:


Top World Oil Producers, 2006
Rank Country Production
1 Saudi Arabia 10,719
2 Russia 9,668
3 United States 8,367
4 Iran 4,146
5 China 3,836
6 Mexico 3,706
7 Canada 3,289
8 United Arab Emirates 2,938
9 Venezuela 2,802
10 Norway 2,785

We are also the worlds largest consumer, but with our population it only goes to fiqure!

Canada is 7th and their pop is only 37 million!

Top World Oil Consumers,
Rank Country Consumption
1 United States 20,588
2 China 7,274
3 Japan 5,222
4 Russia 3,103
5 Germany 2,630
6 India 2,534
7 Canada 2,218
8 Brazil 2,183
9 Korea, South 2,157
10 Saudi Arabia 2,068

it is there park

let them bid it

but let those companies that bid

their regulations


will get much stricter and be enforced

to a higher degree

to import to the country

not rocket science

how many major oil drilling companies are there

and after all if they drill may drop the price

i do not know of the value of said plant life

and if they screw up their environment

let it be known they will have to pay big time

for any help



just a thought

but hey what do i know

Sorry but you are in error. United States is most in arrears with its dues to UN. Canada has provided more troops to UN PeaceKeeping than United States as well.

Back on topic. The Alaskan area has already been disturbed by order of GW. Caribou mating and calving grounds are now cut in half by pipeline. Caribou also affected by drilling.

the us should pull out of the u n anyway

Its for a reason Karma! The Constitution says
US military cannot be placed under foreign command!

Of course we have, since WWII had the majority of burden in every war!
Even during the Cold War! Way more American troops than anyone!