Talara (Piura) could lose about 15,000 jobs from six hydrocarbon concessions if they were to pass into the hands of Petroperu. This is what the Talara Chamber of Commerce and Industries warns, since of such operations, three will expire in 2023 and another three between 2024 and 2028, and there is a legislative initiative that proposes that they be delivered to Petroperú.
For the president of the business association, Julio Ubillús, the measure would be detrimental because Petroperú has not shown good management of Lot 192, an oil well in Loreto that has been paralyzed for 16 months. If the risk were measured by the resources that Piura would no longer receive in the event that the Loreto experience in Talara is repeated, the impact would be S/40 million monthly canon and less surcharge, the Chamber predicts.
“The other option as an urgent and exceptional measure is to extend these contracts for another ten years and harmonize them with the gas terms, while a substantive solution is found,” said Ubillús.
He also stressed that if it is considered that the lots require large investments, “Petroperú’s financial position is not one of the best” because it has a debt for the Talara refinery.
As an example, he recalled that in May the Ministry of Economy gave a loan of US$750 million to Petroperú so that it can meet obligations with its fuel suppliers due to the fact that the downgrades of its credit rating by the agencies Fitch and S&P had affected the lines of credit of the state oil company.