A fire at Ecuador’s largest refinery halted production and prompted evacuations. No injuries reported, but five received smoke inhalation treatment. Officials assure the public about fuel supply stability despite the incident, which raises concerns for future operations.
A fire in a fuel tank at Ecuador’s largest oil refinery has led to a complete halt in production, with nearby residents being evacuated due to smoke and safety concerns. The incident occurred at the Esmeraldas plant, which is capable of refining 110,000 barrels of oil each day. The state oil company, Petroecuador, stated the suspension was necessary to ensure the safety of personnel and the facility as smoke billowed over the area.
Though no injuries were reported, five people received medical assistance for minor smoke inhalation. The site was quickly secured, with soldiers and refinery staff cordoning off the area while workers were evacuated. Local police were also involved in evacuating residents, although the exact number of evacuees has not been disclosed.
The cause of the blaze, which took place near Ecuador’s border with Colombia, remains unclear. Energy Minister Ines Manzano attempted to reassure the public via social media platform X, declaring that the situation was “under control.” However, many residents expressed lingering anxiety.
Ramiro Medina, a plant worker, described the chaos, saying, “a loud noise was heard, and we all started running.” Community representative Edgar Romero added, “What is happening now is quite worrying,” noting the distinctive smell of gasoline that raised alarms, initially mistaking it for a fumigation at a nearby school.
Petroecuador did not reveal the volume of fuel that was present in the tank during the fire incident. The recent event poses a significant concern for Ecuador, which is one of the leading oil producers in South America and heavily depends on petroleum exports. In 2024, the country had an output of around 475,000 barrels of crude per day, with oil exports contributing approximately $8.6 billion to the economy.
The country’s oil production faced disruptions in the past due to severe drought conditions that impacted hydroelectric power generation, along with earlier incidents like a major fuel pipeline leak that spilled over 25,000 barrels of crude into rivers. Fortunately, Ecuador does have two additional refineries, with capacities of 45,000 and 20,000 barrels per day, which may help meet fuel demands.
Despite the incident at the refinery, the government issued a statement on Monday assuring the public that “the supply of fuel is completely guaranteed throughout the country.”
In summary, a fire at Ecuador’s largest oil refinery has halted production and led to the evacuation of nearby residents due to smoke inhalation concerns. Despite these challenges, government officials have assured citizens that the fuel supply in the country remains stable. The situation remains under careful watch as authorities investigate the cause of the fire, which raises questions about the refinery’s future operations and overall production stability.
Original Source: www.cp24.com
