Ecuador advancing gas flare reduction project

Ecuador’s national oil company Petroecuador plans to eliminate 93 traditional natural gas flare stacks in 2024-26 in the Amazon provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana.

The work is part of the state operator’s program to dismantle and/or replace 424 such stacks by 2030, 145 of which have already been removed, the NOC said in an update.

In July 2021, the country’s constitutional court ordered Petroecuador to shut down the flare stacks, some of which began operations nearly 50 years ago.

Shutting down and dismantling the stacks takes 12-36 months, according to the company, which has come under increasing pressure by communities to accelerate the program.

The associated gas is sent to stations where it is processed to generate electricity and produce LPG and gasoline.

Also read EP Petroecuador inaugurates associated gas collection plant in Campo Drago, Sucumbíos and Potential bidders surface for Ecuador associated gas project