en español

block 64 AND block 101

See map of blocks

The Achuar people who live along the PastazaRiver have taken a firm stand against the startup of hydrocarbon operations in their territory. This decision has been defended by their federations, ORACH, ATI and FENAP. As a result, OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM encouraged the creation of new federations, made up of just a few communities, so it could work through them to gain access to Achuar lands and drill two exploratory wells. These wells went into operation in August 2004, nine years after the concession to Block 64 was granted.

In March 2004, the Peruvian government approved the concession of Block 101 to Occidental Petroleum’s Peruvian subsidiary. This block is contiguous to Block 64; together they total 1,698,230 hectares (16,982.3 square kilometers, an area slightly less than half the size of Switzerland). This area includes the ancestral territory of five Achuar and Qechua communities.

The requirement that the Achuar indigenous people be duly consulted before the petroleum block was established and the exploration and production contract was signed was not met. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Energy and Mines has approved the environmental impact study for this hydrocarbon project.

The contract with ARCO

In 1995, the government signed a contract with Atlantic Richfield Peru Inc (ARCO) for production in Block 64, located in Achuar territory along the MoronaRiver and two tributaries of the Pastaza, the Huituyacu and Huasaga rivers, near the northern border of Peru. Although Peru has signed ILO Convention 169, no prior consultation with the indigenous people was done by the government or the company. The Achuar learned about the contract through the media and immediately expressed their disagreement with the startup of petroleum operations in their territory.

In September 1999, ARCO transferred 50 percent of its rights to exploration and production in Block 64 to Occidental Exploradora del Perú Ltd., OXY’s Peruvian subsidiary. In 2000, the Achuar people, resisting pressure from the Fujimori dictatorship and the company, forced ARCO to pull out of the block.

In February 2001, the Peruvian government approved a licensing contract for hydrocarbon exploration and production in Block 64 for three companies: Occidental Exploradora del Perú Ltd. Peruvian subsidiary (OXY) (50%), Repsol Exploración del Perú (25%) and Burlington Resources Perú Limited Sucursal Peruana (25%).

In 2003, the Achuar people’s resistance also caused Burlington Resources Perú Limited to decide to withdraw from Block 64 because of opposition from the communities.