Feb 26 • 17:18 UTC 🇪🇨 Ecuador El Universo (ES)

Amazonian Indigenous Assembly Members Condition Support for Urgent Project on Strengthening Mining and Energy Sectors

Amazonian assembly members from Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Napo have conditioned their support for a crucial bill aimed at strengthening Ecuador's mining and energy sectors.

In a recent session held at the Ecotec university campus in Samborondón, Ecuador, assembly members from the Amazon regions of Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Napo have announced that their votes for an urgent project concerning the mining and energy sectors will be conditional. This decision arises amidst ongoing debates on a significant bill intended to bolster these strategic sectors in the country. The assembly is currently working on the second report of a draft organic law for the enhancement of the mining and energy sectors, which is crucial for the nation's economic development.

The representatives, José Nango from Pastaza, Edmundo Cerda from Napo, and Fernando Nantipia from Morona Santiago, have been expelled from the Pachakutik movement, and their votes are pivotal in gathering the necessary majority to pass the legislation. During the debate, they have made it clear that their support hinges on the removal of Article 29 from the current proposal. This particular article deals with royalty payments associated with the activities of the electric sector, which they believe could adversely affect their communities and the environment.

The assembly's discussions have highlighted the delicate balance between economic growth through mining and energy development and the rights and concerns of Indigenous communities in Ecuador. By voicing their conditional support, these assembly members are advocating for a legislative approach that prioritizes environmental sustainability and the welfare of Indigenous populations while still acknowledging the importance of mineral and energy resources for national progress.

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