This was reported on its website after publishing the reports of these activities that, according to the state, are carried out within phases 1 and 2 to comply with the ruling of the Provincial Court of Sucumbíos.
From 2022 to date, 145 lighters have been eliminated and dismantled in the provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana. This was reported by Petroecuador on its website after publishing the reports of these activities that, according to the state company, are carried out in accordance with the plan established by the public company, within phases 1 and 2, to comply with the ruling of the Provincial Court of Succumb.
The ruling corresponds to a lawsuit against the State presented in 2020 by residents of these communities for alleged contamination from flares that burn gas in oil stations in the region of these provinces.
The verbal announcement of the sentence was given on January 26, 2021, but it was notified by the Provincial Court of Sucumbíos on July 29 of that year, after six months of waiting (normally one week). The ruling establishes that the lighters (which pollute and vent gas) do violate the environmental and health rights of girls and the population in general. Regarding repair measures, it says that the State must eliminate the lighters in two stages, depending on the proximity to populated centers: the closest ones had to be eliminated in 18 months, but the furthest ones could continue to exist until 2030.
Meanwhile, returning to compliance with the sentence, Petroecuador indicated that this latest report contains official documents with data such as block, field, event, place of impact and intervention, date of dismantling, description, solution, photographic record, among others.
The dismantled lighters are located in blocks 7 - 21 Oso Yuralpa, 18 Palo Azul, 61 Auca, 60 Sacha, 44 Pucuna, 56 Guanta, 57 Libertador and Shushufindi, 56 Lago Agrio, 49 Bermejo, 18 Palo Azul, 15 Indillana, 55 Armadillo, 31 Apaika Nenke, among others.
“It is important to note that the estimated time for turning off and disassembling each traditional lighter ranges from 12 to 36 months, depending on the complexity, infrastructure and geographical location... Until 2030 we will comply with the sentence with redesign of facilities and inclusion of new technology in the company's fields in Sucumbíos and Orellana,” explained the state oil company.
Petroecuador added that the progressive elimination of the 145 flares corresponds to the first phase to capture and concentrate the gas associated with oil in the process stations and use it in electricity generation in the company's oil fields. Likewise, part of this gas is sent to the Shushufindi Industrial Complex to be industrialized and obtain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and gasoline.
