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Peru's Environment Minister: Agreement with Loreto to lead to "concrete actions"



15:38. Lima, Mar. 11. Peru’s Environment Minister, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal said the agreement subscribed with the leaders of four native Loreto communities include “concrete actions,” which are concretizing.

It is the "result" of the dialogue held between the government and the population that had been left behind for 40 years, he indicated.

According to Pulgar-Vidal, one of the initiatives “has to do” with 65 modern water potabilization plants.

Of those, 16 have already been installed. 49 are located in Iquitos (Loreto).

Those plants will "benefit" the communities, which suffered the impact of hydrocarbons extractions during the 1970's, he added.

Additionally, the head of the Environment Department highlighted the US$10 million amount to be set aside by the Government, for conducting a health plan aimed at counteracting the toxicological impact registered at native communities.

The environmental remediation of basins Pastaza, Corrientes, Tigre and Marañon, which comprise the Block 1AB and Block 8, is a key element of the agreement, Pulgar-Vidal affirmed.

At the basin Pastaza, Pluspetrol will be carrying out works until 29 August.

Afterwards, the government will demand this enterprise to perform the corresponding remediation works.


As well, it will require Pluspetrol’s abandonment plan to include all the affected areas to be remedied and to guarantee the fulfillment of the commitment.

In addition, this constitutes a financial guarantee.

In case a contingency emerges, which could affect the commitment, a S/.50 million (about US$16 million) remediation fund has been created.

Of this amount, the Energy and Mines Ministry has earmarked S/.30 million (about US$9 million) and the rest S/.20 million (about US$6 million) comes from the fines imposed by OEFA (Environment Ministry’s Environmental Assessment Directorate).

"We have subscribed an agreement [with the Indigenous Peoples’ leaders] that does not mean the end, but the beginning of a dialogue based on a more constructive confidence, which will provide well-being to Peruvians living in very isolated areas of the country," he declared to RPP TV and radio station.

Finally, he expects this example should be considered in Pichanaki, Las Bambas and Tia Maria by highlighting dialogue “always enables to draw positive responses."

(END) VVS/FHG/RGR/MVB


Published: 11/03/2015

http://www.andina.com.pe/ingles/noticia-perus-environment-minister-agreement-with-loreto-to-lead-to-concrete-actions-546840.aspx