Protesters take over oil field in Ecuador jungle, production drops 5,000 barrels

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) Villagers took over an oil field run by state oil company Petroecuador to demand jobs, electricity and paved roads, the company reported.

Daily production at the Auca Sur field in Ecuador’s eastern jungle dropped by some 5,000 barrels to about 171,000 barrels as a result of Monday’s protest, Petroecuador said in a statement.


The protesters reportedly cut communication lines at Auca Sur and four other fields, and threw a stick of dynamite at one of the pumps, but there were no reports of injuries.

The statement did not say how many protesters were involved or give other details, and it was not clear whether the field was still occupied. The villagers could not be reached for comment.

AP