ECUADOR – Petroecuador says fire at Ecuador’s largest refinery is under control
A fire that broke out at the Esmeraldas Refinery, Ecuador’s largest oil-processing facility, has been brought under control after temporarily halting operations, according to state oil company Petroecuador. The incident occurred at the refinery on Sunday and prompted the activation of the facility’s emergency response plan.
The blaze started in the charge pumps of the SEVIA unit, a processing unit designed to handle vacuum residue. This unit reduces the viscosity of heavy residues from crude processing and converts them into fuel oil.
As a precaution, operations at the refinery were temporarily suspended while technicians assessed the situation and ensured the facility’s safety. Emergency crews quickly contained the fire later the same day.
Petroecuador said flames were caused by the combustion of spilled material rather than a large uncontrolled fire. The company added that the situation did not pose a risk of spreading to other refinery units.
The Esmeraldas refinery, located on Ecuador’s northern coast, has a processing capacity of about 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it the country’s most important refining complex and a key supplier of fuels for domestic consumption.
Authorities have not yet determined the definitive cause of the fire, and technical inspections are underway to assess any potential damage before operations fully resume.
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