Ecuador Begins Oil Well Closures in Yasuni

Ecuador's government has initiated the closure of oil wells in the 43-ITT block of Yasuni National Park, following a referendum last year in which voters chose to end drilling in the environmentally sensitive area. The Ministry for Energy and Mines announced the shutdown of the Ishpingo B-56 well, the first of 247 wells, but acknowledged that the entire process will take approximately five-and-a-half years, extending beyond the constitutional court's one-year deadline. This decision comes amid criticism from the Waorani Indigenous people and environmental groups who claim insufficient action has been taken since the referendum. Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves noted the complexity of the closure process, which will cost over $1.3 billion and end funding to the Indigenous communities from Petroecuador. The government plans to have all wells offline by December 2029, with infrastructure removal projected to be completed by August 2030. Critics, including climate advocates, express skepticism about the government's commitment to fulfilling its legal obligations and timelines.