# Petroecuador SOTE pipeline fire and disruption > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/petroecuador-sote-pipeline-fire-and-disruption > Updated: 2026-10-12T14:45:00.000Z. Sources: 16. Developments: 4. Following a fire at pumping station number four of the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE) in Baeza on October 1, Petroecuador declared force majeure on October 3. The incident forced a temporary suspension of crude oil pumping, affecting transport, exploration, production, refining, and commercialization. By October 6, Petroecuador reported that crude oil pumping had resumed after recovering five pumping units, restoring transport capacity to approximately 220,000 barrels per day. During the disruption, SOTE transport dropped by 37% compared to its yearly average, necessitating the diversion of some production to the Heavy Crude Pipeline (OCP). On October 9, Petroecuador lifted the declaration of force majeure after operational conditions stabilized. The company successfully recovered a sixth pumping unit at the Baeza station, which increased crude oil transport capacity from the Amazon region to the Esmeraldas maritime terminals to 312,000 barrels per day. Petroecuador stated that the return to normal operations ensures the continuity of exploration, production, refining, and both domestic and international crude oil deliveries. On October 12, a new emergency occurred when a fissure was detected at kilometer 420+840 near the Cupa precinct in the Quinindé canton, Esmeraldas province. More than 50 technicians were deployed to contain the spill, repair the infrastructure, and protect nearby water sources, such as the Cupa River, using containment barriers and absorbent materials. The incident has raised concerns regarding the reliability of the SOTE system, which experts note is over 50 years old. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-12: Petroecuador manages crude oil leak in Ecuador's SOTE pipeline Petroecuador is managing a crude oil leak in Quinindé, Ecuador, via the SOTE pipeline, following a recent station fire that threatened the country's oil export reliability. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/petroecuador-manages-crude-oil-leak-in-ecuadors-sote-pipeline ### 2026-10-10: Petroecuador restores SOTE pipeline operations after Baeza station fire EP Petroecuador has resumed SOTE oil pipeline operations and lifted the force majeure declaration following a fire at the Baeza Station No. 4. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/petroecuador-restores-sote-pipeline-operations-after-baeza-station-fire ### 2026-10-06: Petroecuador resumes SOTE pipeline pumping after Baeza fire Petroecuador has resumed oil pumping through the SOTE pipeline following a fire at the Baeza station, restoring capacity to 220,000 barrels per day after a significant production drop. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/petroecuador-resumes-sote-pipeline-pumping-after-baeza-fire ### 2026-10-03: Petroecuador declares force majeure after SOTE pipeline fire Petroecuador has declared force majeure and suspended crude oil pumping through the SOTE pipeline following a fire at the Baeza pumping station. Operations are expected to resume by October 9. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/petroecuador-declares-force-majeure-after-sote-pipeline-fire --- Cite as: Petroecuador SOTE pipeline fire and disruption. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/petroecuador-sote-pipeline-fire-and-disruption