New broom: hydrocarbons minister Pérez-García hopes to attract foreign investment in fresh upstream ventures
Ecuador: In a hurry to mend the past
After a decade marred by corruption and legal disputes, Ecuador’s reformist government wants a more investment-friendly exploration regime
The new order started in August with the completion of the merger of the mining and energy ministries into the hydrocarbons ministry, following years of scandal and wholesale sackings. Over the next few months the revamped ministry will start handing out licences under new profit-sharing contracts. The merger was forced by the minority, left-wing government of president Lenín Moreno who seems intent on cleaning out endemic corruption in state-owned oil and gas companies and encouraging stable leadership. In July, for example, PetroEcuador gained its ninth chief executive in 41 months with the appointment of Marcelo Proaño in place of Carlos Tejada who resigned "for personal reasons" after le
Also in this section
19 June 2025
Geopolitical uncertainty casts a pall over expectations around demand, supply, investment and spare capacity
19 June 2025
Shifting demand patterns leaves most populous nation primed to become downstream leader as China and the West retreat
19 June 2025
The strategic importance of vast untapped oil and gas reserves and key shipping routes has come in from the cold
18 June 2025
Egypt’s government was already preparing for potential energy shortages this summer, and the loss of Israeli gas supply has made things worse
