PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 14.Mar.2025) — Ecuador’s EP PetroEcuador said a contingency plan has been activated at km 431 of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) in the El Vergel sector in the province of Esmeraldas due to the breakage of the pipeline in the right of way as a result of ground movements.
The state entity said an initial alert was received at 6:30pm on 13 Mar. 2025, and that emergency brigades and contingency plans for both SOTE and the Esmeraldas-Santo Domingo (polyduct) pipeline were immediately activated in collaboration with OCP Ecuador.
“Containment and cleaning works are being carried out in a coordinated manner, establishing as control points km 442, 445 and 448 in Viche. Containment dams have been implemented as well as manual fluid and soil recovery, EP PetroEcuador announced 14 Mar. 2025 in an official statement.
