QUITO, June 26 (Reuters) – Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso said on Sunday he would cut gasoline and diesel prices by 10 cents a gallon, the latest concession to try to end nearly two weeks of anti-government protests in which at least six people have been killed.
Demonstrations, sometimes violent, of mostly indigenous protesters demanding lower fuel and food prices, among other things, began on June 13 and have reduced Ecuador’s oil production.
Lasso, the confrontational relationship with the national assembly has worsened during the protests, had already withdrawn security measures and announced subsidized fertilizers and debt forgiveness, and his government has met this weekend with indigenous groups . Read more
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The leader of the indigenous organization CONAIE, Leonidas Iza, had pointed out early Sunday gasoline prices and other outstanding issues, promising to keep the demonstrations until they are resolved.
“Everyone believes that gas prices have become the cornerstone of maintaining the conflict and although as a government we are very clear that this factor is not the source of the problems of Ecuadorians, we must think of the common good and in citizen peace “, Lasso. dit.
“I have decided to reduce the price of extra petrol and Ecopais (petrol) by 10 cents per gallon and also diesel by 10 cents per gallon,” Lasso said.
Lasso froze additional gasoline prices to $ 2.55 a gallon and diesel to $ 1.90 a gallon in October last year, sparking an initial series of protests.
Additional gasoline will now cost $ 2.45 per gallon, while diesel will cost $ 1.80, both even higher than CONAIE had ordered.
Ecuador’s oil production has fallen by more than half due to road closures and vandalism related to the protests, the energy ministry said earlier.
“Oil production is at a critical level. Today the figures show a reduction of more than 50%,” the ministry said in a statement. “In 14 days of demonstrations, the Ecuadorian state has stopped receiving about $ 120 million.”
Vandalism, seizure of oil wells and roadblocks have prevented the transportation of the necessary supplies, the ministry said.
Prior to the protests, oil production was about 520,000 barrels per day.
The public oil sector, private producers of flowers and dairy products, tourism and other businesses have lost about $ 500 million, the production ministry said.
Residents of Quito have complained about the shortage of products and Lasso said Sunday before that hospitals in the city of Cuenca were suffering from a shortage of oxygen.
CONAIE has reported five deaths of protesters, while the government says four civilians have died during the protests and two in ambulances delayed by the blockades.
Lawmakers continued the debate Sunday on an effort to remove Lasso from office, though it appears opposition groups do not have the support to do so.
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Report by Alexandra Valencia Written by Julia Symmes Cobb Editing by Nick Zieminski, Robert Birsel
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