On August 20, 2023, 59 percent of Ecuadorians voted to suspend the exploitation of Block 43-ITT (Ishpingo, Tiputini and Tambococha), in the province of Orellana, however so far this field is still in operation.

The Constitutional Court determined that in one year the authorities should dismantle the oil plant.

Next August 31 is the deadline given by the Court to comply with the popular mandate, since on that day the official results of the 2023 vote were notified.

Although the Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, even said that he would ask for an extension to continue the oil exploitation in that field, last May he decreed the creation of the Committee for the Execution of the Popular Will of Yasuni ITT.

So far, no timetable has been made public as to how the process to dismantle the machinery and recover the land will be carried out.

Ecuador’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Juan Carlos Vega, affirmed this Monday that the Government will begin to close the oil wells in Yasuní, although the process will take between three and five years.

Due to environmental and social risks, we are implementing a progressive process to reduce the effects, said the official in an interview with Teleamazonas.

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