Since July 1, the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System has been out of service due to heavy rains in the Amazonian province of Napo, which put the pipelines at risk as a result of erosion by the Coca River.

This event, coupled with the suspension of pumping through the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline, forced the shutdown of extraction wells, causing a drop in national hydrocarbon production, which fell from 464,000 barrels per day to just 34,000.

Work to install temporary pipeline variants is progressing slowly, with technical and geographical difficulties, according to local media reports.

The Oil Defense Front blamed the government for an “unprecedented collapse,” attributable to a lack of foresight, poor management of Petroecuador, and administrative instability, claiming the crisis “could and should have been avoided.”

According to estimates, the country has already lost more than $215 million and faces a potential fuel shortage.

Social organizations are demanding that Energy Minister Ines Manzano appear before the National Assembly and that President Daniel Noboa issue an emergency plan. They are also proposing an audit of the multiple pipeline ruptures in recent years and a new comprehensive plan for the sector.

jdt/oda/avr