Ecuador lifts the declaration of preventive Force Majeure for the restart of SOTE operations

This Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources release was published using machine translation.

Quito DM, June 9, 2020

This Monday, June 8, 2020, the Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources raised the preventive and environmental Force Majeure declared on June 4, to the hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation operations, due to the paralysis of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), during the construction of two new variants on the border between the provinces of Napo and Sucumbíos.

This State Portfolio communicated, through circular No. MERNNR-VH-2020-0009-CIR, to the public and private companies in charge of the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons, the restart of SOTE operations from 12h00 on 07 of June 2020.

The resolution was sent, once the Petroecuador Public Company reported on the completion of the construction work on the variants corresponding to the SOTE main line, to prevent breaks due to the effect of regressive erosion on the Quijos River, both at Km 95 + 700 (Chicharrón Sector) of 380 meters, as in Km 96 + 500 (Río Márker Sector) of 690 meters.

The stoppage of hydrocarbon transport through SOTE did not affect the country's crude exports due to the existing reserves at the Balao Terminal (Esmeraldas).

Through this measure, the National Government normalizes and reactivates oil production and transport operations in a technical and gradual manner until reaching the levels registered before the SOTE paralysis, taking precautions for the safety and health of Ecuadorians.