After more than 24 hours of blockade in the Loma La Lata oil field in Neuquén, the mapuche community Lof Painemil managed to secure the supply of bottled gas for local homes.
The agreement was reached after the signing of an act that resolved the conflict, allowing the reopening of access to the field, one of the most important in the province, and the gradual resumption of oil production.
The claim, led by Elba Painemil and his group, began on Tuesday morning. Even workers trapped inside the company were reported due to the blocking of access. However, the outage lasted until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, when an understanding was reached with the provincial government and YPF, the state company involved.
As indicated by the state oil company, members of the Painemil community restricted the mobility of vehicles in access to the oil field to complain about a problem that affects a home where members of that group reside.
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The conflict originated due to the lack of home connection in one of the 40 homes that the community owns in the YPF silver area. So they decided to block the road to receive a prompt response in the midst of the low temperatures that occur in much of the country.
The company warned that “There are more than 3 million cubic meters of gas that, if the situation continues, will affect the supply in Buenos Aires and other points of the gas consumption network at times of high demand and climate crisis.”
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In addition, they indicated that yesterday more than 300 oil tankers were illegally detained inside the plant, as well as contractors who provide services for the state firm. ““They did not eat food or drink throughout the day.” they denounce from the state firm.
For its part, the Neuquén Police confirmed that there are still employees detained because the leaders of the Mapuche community “want to negotiate a solution to their proposal.”
Background
Earlier this year, during a union complaint about “discrimination and violence”, the Mapuche community also led a blockade. On that occasion, the provincial government intervened to negotiate with them and resolve the situation at the main access to the site, something similar to what happened recently.
Loma La Lata is one of the most important deposits in the oil province. During the cut at that time, the community threatened: “We continue blocking the passage and we are going to remain here waiting for a response. If no one calls us, we are forced to strengthen the measures”.
However, according to reports, intimidation is recurrent. “We are willing to do anything,” they stated repeatedly, in order to demand that their concerns be addressed.
On this occasion, the claim that began on Tuesday affected the production of the field, according to information provided by sources from the contracting companies.
