The President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, assured that the losses total $ 533 million, although Petroecuador calculated $ 600 million a week ago.
In early December 2021, the daily crude oil production it reached 485,000 barrels. However, the suspension of operations of the two main oil pipelines in the country (SOTE and OCP) has caused it to plummet to 124,801.
This represents 74% less and leaves the initial goal of reaching 500,000 barrels a day without a floor by the end of the year.
According to the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, Ecuador has lost about $ 533 million due to the suspension of the pumping of crude oil through the pipelines, Due to the erosion in an area of the Coca river.
In addition, the President assured that more fuels had to be imported.
On December 16, 2021, Petroecuador had calculated the losses at $ 600 million.
In a space for dialogue with journalists at the Carondelet palace, Lasso explained that the erosion It affects a 300-meter section through which the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE, public), the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP, private) and another multipurpose pipeline passed.
“There is an impact of about 533 million dollars because you stop exporting oil (and) you have to import fuel to supply domestic demand. So it is a strong negative impact, ”he said.
And he expressed his hope of recovering that loss “with greater oil production during the year 2022 ″, when the country expected to end 2021 with an 8% growth in its production of 478,000 barrels per day this year.
Progress of works
The suspension of operations in both pipelines It was declared on December 10, 2021, as a result of a new case of landslide in a tributary of the Coca River that threatened the integrity of the pipes.
According to that Ministry, the construction of the seventh variant of the SOTE, located in the San Luis sector, Napo province, is carried out according to the planned schedule, with a work progress of 91%.
About 200 technicians from Petroecuador and the Army Corps of Engineers are advancing with the work and maneuvers of ascent of 130 meters of the pipe corresponding to this section of the pipeline.
For its part, the OCP diversion has an advance of 62.6% and is expected to be completed in the first week of January.
Petroecuador and OCP ensure that they have an environmental management plan to respond to emergencies and contingencies in the event of adverse events that may occur during the execution of the works.
But at the moment, and as a preventive measure, operations through the SOTE, the Shushufindi-Quito Poliducto and the OCP remain suspended.
Third time
Oil is the country’s main export product and its sale finances an important part of the national budget, around 30%.
Last year, the stoppage of the production, also due to problems derived from erosion regressive (process of propagation of the erosion river towards the upper part of the rivers or ravines) in the channel of Coca, affected Ecuadorian finances at the worst moment of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is therefore the third time that the Ecuadorian Executive decrees the application of the force majeure clause by the erosion regressive in the Coca or its tributaries: the first was in April 2020 and the second in July, due to landslides of river walls.
Despite the adversity, fuel dispatch and distribution operations are normal throughout the country and supply on a national scale is guaranteed. (EFE-JS)
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