Laguna del Tigre National Park, part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, spanning more than 338,000 hectares of tropical forest, wetlands, and savannas, has been exploited for oil since the late 1980s. In 2001, the oil concession was taken over by Perenco, which continued operations for more than two decades. In 2010, Perenco’s contract was renewed under circumstances that Guatemala’s current energy minister describes as deeply suspicious, with allegations of corruption. According to reports, Perenco did not submit a legally required environmental impact assessment, even as the renewal process advanced.

Over the years, Perenco was repeatedly sanctioned by Guatemalan environmental authorities for oil spills and pollution, but the fines were minor and went unpaid. In 2025, the government led by President Bernardo Arevalo, decided not to renew Perenco’s concession. The official reason: the oil wells had become largely unproductive, and extracting oil required injecting 120 barrels of fresh water for every barrel of oil produced, resulting in disproportionate volumes of contaminated water.

When the concession expired in August 2025, Perenco abandoned all its infrastructure without carrying out its contractual obligation to restore and reforest the exploited area. An expert assessment, commissioned by Guatemalan authorities and carried out by the Mexican oil company Pemex, estimates that dismantling the facilities will cost at least US$ 50 million. On top of that, Guatemalan authorities estimate that removing the most polluting materials (soils, dump sites) will cost several million quetzals more.

A survey by the environment ministry found that Perenco left 10,000 hectares deforested, wells intact and uncapped, and numerous toxic waste dumps. Oil leaks were observed, and equipment was abandoned without safeguards, putting soil and water - including aquifers - at serious risk of contamination.

Financially, the contract was highly skewed in Perenco’s favor. From 2010 to 2023, the company paid about US$ 714 million in royalties, but Guatemala reimbursed it US$ 900 million for operating costs, by using “recoverable cost reimbursement.” This mechanism allowed Perenco to recoup its investments before sharing real profit with the state.

Communities that settled in the park have also been deeply affected. During Perenco’s presence, roads and infrastructure encouraged migration into the protected area. Now, the state must decide how to address these communities, who may engage in farming, cattle raising, or even illicit activities - all within a national park whose protection status is legally compromised by past oil exploitation.

Climate and governance impacts
Perenco’s exit without environmental restoration represents a major governance failure: the state is left to shoulder the costs of remediation, undermining public finances. The deforestation, pollution, and infrastructure abandonment significantly damage ecosystems that are not only invaluable for biodiversity but also serve as carbon sinks. For climate policy, this case is a stark reminder that fossil-fuel operations can leave a legacy of ecological debt when proper safeguards and accountability are absent.