Andina

Peru's President announces Petroperu's return to oil, natural gas exploitation activities

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Republic

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Republic

20:44 | Talara (Piura region), Dec. 27.

The President of the Republic Pedro Castillo on Monday announced the return of Petroperu to oil and natural gas production activities, after a 25-year absence, with the restart of its operations in Block I, located in Talara Basin in the northern region of Piura.

"Today the country's hydrocarbon industry is taking an important step forward for the benefit of all Peruvians. Until the 90s, Petroperu had operational and technical capacity and was able to produce up to 187,000 barrels per day, but the privatizing actions that we all know paralyzed the development of this state-owned company, to the detriment of the country," he commented.

Block I currently produces around 540 barrels per day of oil, more than 3 million cubic feet of natural gas, and 130 barrels per day of natural gas liquids. 

In addition, it has 99 drilled wells and requires an investment of US$136 million.

"Petroperu's return to production activities will begin with the commencement of operations in Block 1 and, in the coming months, in Blocks 192 and 64 —both located in the region of Loreto and whose recruitment processes are progressing," he said.

The country's top official noted that, putting these blocks into operation will secure part of the crude oil that the new Talara Refinery will require for the production of quality fuels, making use of state-of-the-art technology.

"In April next year, the state-owned company plans to start a safe and progressive start-up of this important complex, which will be one of the most important and modern ones in the Americas and will produce —very close to this block— 95,000 barrels per day of gas, diesel, and other fuels with low sulfur content," he underscored.

Moreover, the Peruvian leader highlighted the fact that the commencement of operations at the new Talara Refinery will have a significant impact on sale prices of the fuels that Petroperu will produce to supply the national market.

His remarks were made during the delivery ceremony of Block I in Talara and the restart of Petroperu's operations in the production of oil and natural gas in the Talara Basin situated in the northern region of Piura.

(END) NDP/JCR/RMB

Publicado: 27/12/2021