Ecuador’s state-run energy company Petroecuador has halted operations on its main oil pipeline following a rupture caused by a landslide in the Amazon region.
In a statement released Monday, the company confirmed it had closed valves and suspended crude pumping through the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline, which has the capacity to transport 360,000 barrels of oil per day.
“The valves have been closed and oil pumping has been suspended,” Petroecuador said, adding that the rupture was the result of natural terrain movement in the jungle.
While it remains unclear whether any crude oil was spilled, the company said it does not currently anticipate shutting down oil wells connected to the pipeline.
This disruption raises concerns over potential supply impacts in a country where oil remains a key economic pillar. Ecuador exported over $8.6 billion in crude oil last year, and in 2024 has averaged 475,000 barrels per day in production, with over 70% of that output shipped abroad nearly half to North America.
This marks the second significant oil-related incident this year. In March, more than 25,000 barrels of crude were spilled in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, a coastal region in the northwest.
The full extent of the Amazon rupture and possible environmental implications are still being assessed.
