Petroecuador intervenes at 27 sites to protect fuel supplies during heavy rains

Petroecuador has intervened at 27 strategic points across Ecuador as it prepares for possible heavy rains and flooding associated with El Niño. The state oil company said the plan, launched in May, aims to keep fuel moving through the country’s transport, refining and storage network.

Fourteen of the sites require monitoring because of possible landslides, while 13 sit in areas where flood protection has been strengthened. The works include stabilising slopes, building retaining walls, installing gabions and berms, and adding drainage systems to channel water away from pipelines and other facilities.

The interventions cover critical sections of the Sistema de Oleoducto Transecuatoriano, or SOTE, as well as the Esmeraldas-Santo Domingo-Quito and Pascuales-Cuenca pipelines. They also extend to fuel terminals, pumping stations and the Esmeraldas and La Libertad refineries.

Petroecuador said damage to a pipeline, terminal or other link could disrupt the delivery of fuel to service stations and LPG to households. Such interruptions could also affect public and commercial transport, food distribution, production and businesses that rely on regular deliveries.

Sebastián Maag Pardo, Petroecuador’s acting general manager, said advance planning would strengthen the company’s response capacity while protecting strategic infrastructure and the environment. The company has also assessed backup connectivity and prioritised monitoring along the SOTE and the Esmeraldas-Santo Domingo-Quito and Shushufindi-Quito pipelines.

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The measures reflect the institution’s commitment to safety, operational continuity and environmental protection.