EDIT
"The Ecuadorean government approved plans by Petroleo Brasileiro, or Petrobras, to drill in Block 31 after spending a year completing environmental impact studies. Block 31, believed to hold 230 million barrels of oil, is in Yasuni National Park, which was designated a protected biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1989.
Ecuadorean environmentalist and indigenous groups warn that with Wednesday's deal, three foreign oil companies will now be able to drill virtually throughout the reserve. The other concessions have been awarded to Spanish-based Repsol-YPF and U.S.-based Occidental Petroleum Corp.
Energy Minister Eduardo Lopez downplayed the protests Wednesday, telling Dow Jones Newswires that Petrobras met all the legal requirements. The company also plans to invest US$100 million in the country over the next five years, he added.
Deputy Environment Minister Ruben Moreno said that regulators will ensure that Petrobras uses the latest technology to avoid environmental damage or harm to jungle Indian communities."
EDIT
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-08-26/s_26726.asp