I think an OPEC price ceiling of $40-$50 a barrel is favorable for the organization's members.

The prevailing idea among member countries is to maintain the official production ceiling of the organization.

The new minister will have a lot to do; the sector needs somebody to get it out of a bad situation.

You might have thought in this price environment [$60-a-barrel oil] that you might have got a bonus, but Ecuador is a difficult political and economic regime for the oil industry.

Some 20 to 30 dollars (in the price per barrel) is pure speculation,

I think it is important that we get a favorable vote. I think it is doable. If we don't ... get approval, and we do go, we're going to lose some international prestige.