Ecuador’s Petroecuador declared force majeure on March 18, 2025, after a devastating oil spill triggered by a landslide. The spill, which began on March 13, severely contaminated the Esmeraldas River, impacting over 500,000 residents and resulting in a critical water crisis. With a state of emergency in effect, the company suspended crude oil exports to mitigate contractual consequences.
On March 18, 2025, Petroecuador, Ecuador’s state oil company, declared force majeure on its Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) after a major oil spill commenced on March 13. This disaster, triggered by a landslide due to heavy rainfall, has severely contaminated the Esmeraldas River, impacting over 500,000 residents facing a critical water crisis.
The landslide leading to the pipeline rupture was exacerbated by extreme weather, which has resulted in 20 fatalities as reported by March 19. Following the oil spill, Petroecuador also declared a state of emergency on March 16, halting exports of Oriente crude oil, one of the nation’s crude varieties. This decision is intended to protect the company from any potential penalties associated with contract breaches as a result of the incident.
The 60-day emergency declaration aims to mobilize resources to mitigate the oil spill’s consequences on hydrocarbon activities. This extensive spill has also caused widespread devastation across regions in western Ecuador, with the provinces of Manabí, Guayas, and others reporting severe impacts, including significant infrastructure damage and displacement of the population.
According to the National Secretariat of Risk Management (SGR), the calamity has affected over 108,227 individuals, resulting in 29,984 damaged houses. The oil leak reached approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) affecting numerous waterways, with initial estimations of the spill volume at around 200,000 barrels, though Petroecuador has yet to confirm these figures.
Local officials reported that those most affected include residents living along riverbanks, who have witnessed severe contamination of their water sources. Both the mayors of Esmeraldas and Quinindé emphasized the extreme urgency of the situation, highlighting that many families now lack access to safe drinking water.
In response to the crisis, Petroecuador has commenced recovery operations and instituted measures to distribute potable water to the stricken areas, further compounded by environmental emergencies declared for the province and surrounding wildlife reserves. The closure of nearby beaches has been ordered due to the spill, heightening environmental concerns.
Marine biologist Eduardo Rebolledo raised alarm regarding the ecological ramifications, noting, “There are no life forms in the water” of the impacted rivers. This situation underlines the urgent need for effective remediation efforts and in-depth investigations into the spill’s causes to avert future incidents.
In summary, the declaration of force majeure by Petroecuador in response to the recent catastrophic oil spill marks a significant environmental and humanitarian crisis in Ecuador. The spill, affecting over 500,000 residents and contaminating critical water supplies, necessitates urgent action to mitigate its impact. With multiple fatalities reported and extensive damage to infrastructure, continued monitoring and recovery efforts are essential to restore affected communities and protect the environment.
Original Source: watchers.news
