The recent decision of put an end to oil exploitation in Block 43-ITTlocated in the Yasuni National Parkis a historical milestone for the country and, in particular, for the Waoranis, an indigenous community that has lived in the Ecuadorian Amazon for centuries. However, for the Waoranis, the closure of this oil field does not mean the end of their worries. Despite the victory in the plebiscite held in August 2023, they fear that the abandonment of the activity will leave behind a trace of pollution and dangerous waste that will seriously affect their environment and their way of life.
A vote that marks the future
The plebiscite of August 20, 2023 It was a historic event in Ecuador: the 58.95% of voters They opted for the definitive closure of Block 43-ITT, located in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, the Yasuní National Park. This decision was received with relief by the Waorani communities, who have defended for years the conservation of their territory against oil activity.
The Waorani Nationality of Ecuador (Nawe)a non-profit organization that brings together the 87 communities of this indigenous town, played a key role in the campaign in favor of the “Yes” in the plebiscite. Ene Nenquimo, vice president of Nawe, expressed her satisfaction with the resultbut warned about the risks they still face: “We want to see with our own eyes, and we want our rights to be respected.”
The fear of contamination
Despite the victory in the plebiscite, Waoranis are concerned about environmental impact what the abandonment of the oil field could have. Block 43-ITT, exploited by the state-owned Petroecuador since 2016, has left an infrastructure that, if not properly dismantled, could continue to contaminate the ecosystem. “We are very concerned because the Ecuadorian State says that it is going to completely dismantle it, but we also do not know how they are going to leave it technically,” commented Nenquimo, after reviewing an apparently abandoned well in Block 67.
He ‘Committee for the Execution of the Yasuní’ Popular Willcreated by President Daniel Noboa to supervise the closure of Block 43-ITT, is made up only of members of the government and representatives of Petroecuador, which has generated distrust among the Waoranis, who consider their exclusion from this committee a lack of respect if They are the ones who protect the jungle and its inhabitants.
In response, they organized the ‘International Summit for Yasuní’, on August 28 and 29. There they developed their own action plan to ensure responsible dismantling of the block.
A long and uncertain process
Although the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has established a one year period for the total closure of Block 43-ITTso far only one of the 247 active wells has been closed. The Government has stated that complete dismantling could take up to five years and five months, as it considers that this is sufficient to ensure the safety of both indigenous communities and the environment. This delay worries the Waoranis, for whom time is a key factor, as each day that passes without a clear plan increases the risk of irreversible environmental damage.
Decades of oil without visible wealth
The relationship of the Waorani people with the oil industry began more than sixty years ago, when the first companies arrived in their territory. The life of this community has changed a lot since then, since have gone from living in isolation to facing the consequences of industrial development. However, despite the large quantities of oil that have been extracted from their land, many Waorani communities have not seen tangible progress in terms of well-being and development. More Gaba, a resident of Guiyero, a community located within Block 16, pointed out to illustrate this statement that he and his neighbors have many difficulties in accessing services as basic as medical care, electricity or transportation.
The future of Yasuní and the struggle of the Waorani
The closure of Block 43-ITT is only a first step in the effort to protect the Yasuní National Park. Although this block is the most modern and recent of those operating in the area, other oil blocks remain active, and there are no immediate plans to close them.
Germán Ahua, president of the Guiyero community, has been categorical in this sense: “Enough is enough. Let them recognize the impacts and let us live in peace.” And, for the Waoranis, oil extraction has not only meant the degradation of their environment, but also a constant threat to their culture and ancestral way of life.