PetroTal shuts in Bretana amid violent protests

PetroTal Corp. shut down Bretana oil field, Block 95, Peru, due to civil unrest outside the oil field camp by the same group that took over Petroperu’s Pump Station No.5 at Saramiriza the first week of August. The group is seeking government assistance against the COVID-19 crisis. The field closure is expected to last until inquiry into the incident is completed.

As a result of the attack at Pump Station No.5, PetroTal requested enhanced security at Bretana from Peru’s National Police. The police had dispatched about 40 officers to act in a preventive manner to discourage violence from the protesters, and a local prosecutor from nearby Requena attended to report on any disturbances, the company said Aug. 10.

In the late hours of Aug. 8, and into early hours of Aug. 9, an armed group of protesters confronted the national police force. About a dozen injuries amongst police and protesters were reported. Three protestors later died from their injuries. Charges are expected to be filed against protesters who acted unlawfully during the protest. PetroTal is cooperating fully with the authorities as they conduct a review of this incident.

For safety reasons, all non-essential personnel have evacuated from the field. A key group remains to commence production when appropriate, at which time the remaining crew will be brought back into the field under COVID-19 protocols.

PetroTal Corp. previously shut in Bretana due to storage capacity limitations resulting from shut down of the Northern Oil Pipeline (ONP) from a Peruvian government public health directive (OGJ Online, May 8, 2020).