PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (Piero Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 18.Mar.2025) — EP Petroecuador announced that through Resolution No. PETRO-PGG-2025-0014-RSL that force majeure has officially been declared for its operations. This, after a recent landslide impacted the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) and caused a substantial crude oil spill.
The emergency declaration will not last longer than 60 days and has as its main objective, to allow EP Petroecuador to take all the actions and allocate all the necessary resources, to minimize the impact of the force majeure event on its operations of exploration, exploitation, transport and marketing of hydrocarbons, through the hiring of labor, services, goods and equipment that are required.
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The volume of oil spilled is yet to be determined, EP Petroecuador announced on 18 Mar. 2025 in an official statement. The spilled volumes will only be known once pumping resumes and the corresponding balances are made. Theses balances will be verified by the Agency for Regulation and Control of Hydrocarbons, the state oil company said.
Operations at SOTE are estimated to resume later this week, according to EP Petroecuador.
As a result of the emergency declaration, the exports of Oriente oil through the Balao Maritime Terminal have been deferred until force majeure is lifted. Companies will be notified in a timely manner of the reprogramming of such exports.
As of 17 Mar. 2025, a stock of 1,148,323 bbls were available to ensure the operation of the Esmeraldas refinery. And, exports from the OCP maritime terminal have been are carried out normally, according to EP Petroecuador. EP Petroecuador said the exports of Napo oil have been carried out normally. The company said it has a stock of 1,027,182 barrels in OCP.
EP Petroecuador also said it has enough stock to supply the domestic market with fuels and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
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By Piero Stewart reporting from Panama City. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.
