U.S. warns tourists about Manabí and Santa Elena Provinces; Petroecuador says billions of barrels of oil remain underground; Wind power project considered

The U.S. State Department has updated its travel alerts to warn tourists to “reconsider” visits to Manabí and Santa Elena Provinces due to high rates of violence. Earlier, the State Department had issued a general travel advisory that tourists take “precautions” when traveling in Ecuador.

“Terrorist organizations and other criminal groups have carried out violent activities in Manabí and Santa Elena and the level of violence has increased,” the new advisory warned. It advised U.S. government personnel to “exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant” when traveling in the two provinces on official business.

The U.S. State Department is recommending that tourists “reconsider” plans to travel in Manabí and Santa Elena Provinces due to high rates of violence.

Citing the fact that almost 50% of international tourists are from the U.S., the Ecuador Federation of Chambers of Tourism is advising the U.S. “to be very careful” in how it describes dangers to travelers. “It is inaccurate and unfair to describe the entire country of Ecuador as dangerous when the real dangers are confined to certain areas, particularly in the coastal region,” said federation president Holbach Muñetón.

“The Galapagos Islands, Cuenca and many other areas of the country are among the safest in Latin America and this should be made clear in travel advisories,” Muñetón says.

Petroecuador says billions of barrels of oil remain untapped
Petroecuador says that “billions of barrels of oil remain underground” in Ecuador and is urging international oil companies to “explore the possibilities of future projects.” Petroecuador manager Sebastián Maag made the comment in promoting production opportunities in the Amazonian Sacha oil field at the Energy Cooperation Seminar between Korea and Ecuador in Quito.

“In the Sacha fields alone, a new survey recently upgraded proven reserves from 350 million barrels to 640,” Maag said, adding that other surveys have recently raised estimates of reserves in other areas. “As we continue to explore existing oil fields and new ones, it is clear that billions of barrels remain to be exploited.”

During the seminar, Maag said claims that Ecuador is running out of oil are untrue. “The more we explore, the more we are certain that oil will continue to flow for many years from this country,” he said.

Azuay wind power project considered
The Electric Corporation of Ecuador (CELEC) has requested bids for a feasibility study for construction of a large wind farm in the Cajas Mountains west of Cuenca. The project, called El Pimo, would be located in the Chaucha parish and would have a generation capacity of 150 megawatts.

CELEC reports that preliminary data indicates that the location, at an elevation of 3,800 meters, was “one of the best in southern Ecuador in terms of wind consistency and intensity.”

If the project goes forward, CELEC estimates the cost at $2.5 million.