近年来厄瓜多尔石油政策演变及风险服务合同要点

自2007年左翼政府上台执政以来,厄瓜多尔的石油资源国有化政策经过临时措施、法理准备和合同变更三个阶段,历时四年,现已完成服务合同谈判.厄政府通过颁布新宪法规定国家对石油等不可再生资源享有唯一管辖权,国家从这些资源的开发利用上获得的收益不能低于任何参与开发的合同者；通过修改石油法,规定风险服务合同为该国主要使用的石油合同模式,建立以每桶服务费率为基础的服务费支付机制,以法律条文形式规定原石油合同转换为服务合同的谈判截止日期；政府利用签订服务合同限定了承包商的收入,彻底消除油价上涨带给承包商的超额收入,同时要求承包商自担所有风险.综合考虑厄石油政策的变更规律,认为其石油政策环境进入一个相对稳定期.在厄发展的石油公司应在把握机会的同时,清醒认识和评估政策风险.

Ecuador’s oil policy changes in recent years and the main features of risk-service contracts

Ecuador’s nationalization of oil resources was implemented in a 3-stage process beginning with certain temporary measures followed by changes to the law, and finally renegotiation of oil contracts.The process lasted four years,beginning when the current left-wing government came to power and ending with completion of the service contract negotiations,during which the government forced certain things.They adopted a new constitution giving the state sole jurisdiction over oil and other non-renewable resources and requiring its gains from development and use of these resources to be at least as great as those of any contractors involved in resources development.The government also modified the hydrocarbon law into stipulating the risk-service contract as the country’s main oil contract model,establishing a per-barrel rate based service-fee payment mechanism, and also setting a deadline for converting existing contracts into service contracts.By signing such a service contract the government limits the contractor’ s income and eliminates excess revenue due to rising oil prices,while contractors bear all the risk.Ecuador’s oil resources are relatively abundant and their exploration and development depends on foreign capital and technology. After many changes in the hydrocarbon sector in recent years Ecuador’ s oil policy environment will enter a stable period.The article gives oil companies interested in developments in Ecuador some enlightenment and clearer understanding and assessment of the risk due to the government policy change.