Ecuador’s national oil company, Petroecuador, has restarted the country’s main oil pipeline, known as SOTE, after urgent repairs.
The pipeline resumed pumping on July 26, 2024, following a nearly month-long shutdown that began July 2. Officials took this step after heavy rain caused dangerous erosion in Napo Province, threatening to break the pipeline and risk a major oil spill in the Amazon.
SOTE can move up to 360,000 barrels of crude oil every day from the Amazon oil fields to Ecuador’s Pacific coast. This pipeline is responsible for moving most of Ecuador’s oil, which makes up over 40% of national exports and provides about 30% of the government’s income.
When SOTE stopped, average national oil production fell, and Ecuador lost millions of dollars each day—a real problem for the country’s economy.
Petroecuador’s engineers installed a 988-meter bypass to redirect oil safely around the damaged section. Acting fast prevented a possible environmental disaster, like those that have struck the region before.
Oil spills have badly harmed local people and wildlife in earlier cases, so swift repairs mattered both for the economy and the environment. Erosion along riverbanks remains a serious challenge for pipelines in this part of Ecuador.
Heavy rain, land use changes, and natural wear keep raising the risk of similar problems. The government says it will keep monitoring and working to prevent future shutdowns.
This episode shows how much Ecuador depends on oil pipelines like SOTE. When the line stopped, the effects reached from small villages in the Amazon to trading partners overseas.
Keeping this pipeline safe and working is crucial for Ecuador’s economy, the Amazon’s people, and the country’s ability to pay its bills.