Oil Production Shut Down: Ecuador In State Of Emergency

The government of Ecuador declared a state of emergency in two Amazon provinces where protests have shut 29,400 barrels of daily oil production by the sate firm Petroecuador.

The state of emergency will allow the government to retake control of oil fields and to censure news media working in the area.

Petroecuador's crude production has fallen to 29,400 bpd from the usual 201,000 bpd since residents of Sucumbios and Orellana provinces began invading oil camps and blocking highways on Monday, a company official said.

The protesters are demanding foreign oil companies operating in the region provide financing for infrastructure projects and more job opportunities and raise state participation in operation of the area.