This Saturday, February 25, complaints were reported about long queues at gas stations in Cuenca. Petroecuador reported that due to the weather conditions registered in the area of ​​La Libertad, in the province of Santa Elena, where the unloading of imported products and the unloading of hydrocarbons are carried out, there was a delay in the arrival of ships from gasoline and therefore measures were taken.

The state oil company planned to receive approximately 420,000 gallons of ecopain gasoline from 21:00 on the same day at the Chaullabamba terminal in Cuenca.

Could pipeline paralysis lead to rising consumer prices or fuel shortages?

Petroecuador reported through a statement that General Manager María Elisa Soledispa, in order to avoid damage, ordered the Cuenca terminal to operate this Sunday, February 26, exceptionally to make the product available to the public.

“This situation has nothing to do with the emergency that occurred in the Trans-Ecuador Gas Pipeline System (SOTE) and the Shushufinfi Quito pipeline, registered on February 22 in the province of Napo and whose repair work is progressing according to estimates,” the company said. in connection with the collapse of the bridge on the Marker River, which exposed the pipelines and resulted in the suspension of crude oil pumping and the declaration of force majeure in the oil sector. Due to this situation, exports have been suspended, and the crude oil that is currently stored will be used for internal consumption.

Petroecuador began to shut down wells after the pipeline shutdown. The last export came out on Wednesday

The state-owned oil company guarantees fuel supply at the national level, as it has indicated that it has terminals in different cities to meet the demand of users in a timely manner.