QUITO, March 3 (Reuters) - A consortium made up of

subsidiaries of Chinese state energy giant Sinopec

and Canada's New Stratus Energy ( RDRIF ) has been awarded a

20-year production sharing contract for Ecuador's most

productive oil block, New Stratus Energy ( RDRIF ) said in a statement on

Monday.

New Stratus said the deal includes an upfront cash entry

bonus of $1.5 billion, $600 million of which it will pay.

The government has said it does not have the funds or the

technology necessary to increase production at the Sacha block,

which is one of the country's oldest. The block produces about

75,000 barrels per day.