EP Petroecuador restarts oil exports

Once the construction works of the emerging variants in the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) and in the Shushufindi-Quito Poliducto, in Napo province, the General Manager of EP Petroecuador, Italo Cedeño, reported that the company lifted the Force Majeure and oil exports resumed today.

“During this day , two shipments of 360 thousand barrels of Napo crude were shipped through the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline Terminal (OCP) and tomorrow Crudo Oriente exports will restart through the Balao Maritime terminal in Esmeraldas, with two shipments of 360 thousand barrels ” , he pointed out.

This, until gradually equalizing the commitments that were deferred last December.

Refinery Operations

EP Petroecuador maintained the operational continuity of La Libertad and Shushufindi Refinery at minimum load during the Force Majeure. Currently, it has restarted operations at the Esmeraldas Refinery, completely reactivating the production of derivatives.

At the Esmeraldas and Shushufindi plants, 100% of their crude load was retaken ; while in La Libertad Refinery it will be kept at low load; This is due to the need to transport crude oil by sea and the need for better quality crude. It is expected that on January 9 it will reach its maximum capacity again.

The public company, during the declaration of Force Majeure, executed a technical plan in each of the refining centers , with the objective of maximizing their production, considering the limitation in the reception of crude oil, for which it carried out several maintenance works in the refineries. three refineries.

At the Esmeraldas Refinery , maintenance work was carried out in the Sulfur Unit, in the C-H01 and T-Vh01 furnaces of the Non-Catalytic 1 unit and in the D-E05 A / B / C heat exchangers of the HDS unit .

At the La Libertad Refinery , repair work was carried out on the PV-01 tower of the Parsons unit and the change of the 24-inch salt water intake line.

Finally, at the Shushufindi Refinery , pipes were replaced in the Sacha gas pipeline and in the suction line at the Shushufindi Norte station, and compressor maintenance was carried out at the Secoya station.

The public company has an effective refining capacity of 172 thousand barrels per day, divided into 110 thousand in Esmeraldas, 42 thousand in La Libertad and 20 thousand in Shushufindi.