Petroecuador restores SOTE pipeline operations after Baeza station fire

EP Petroecuador has restored operations of the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE) following a fire at the Baeza Station No. 4. The company announced that the declaration of force majeure was lifted on Friday, October 9, 2026, after operational conditions were stabilized.

The restoration follows the recovery of the sixth pumping unit at the Baeza station, which allowed the company to increase crude oil transport capacity from the Amazon region to the Esmeraldas maritime terminals to a flow of 312,000 barrels per day. The company stated that the return to normal operations ensures the continuity of exploration, production, refining, and both domestic and international crude oil deliveries.