A fuel tank fire on Monday forced a halt to production at Ecuador’s largest oil refinery in Esmeraldas province, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents as a massive plume of smoke rose from the site.
The refinery, operated by state oil company Petroecuador, has a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day (bpd). Operations were suspended “to safeguard the security of the facilities and personnel,” the company said.
No injuries were reported, although five people received medical treatment for minor smoke inhalation. Workers were evacuated, and the area was secured by soldiers and refinery staff, according to an AFP journalist on the scene.
Local police confirmed they were evacuating residents in the vicinity, though the number was not disclosed. The cause of the fire, near Ecuador’s border with Colombia, remains unknown.
Energy Minister Ines Manzano took to X (formerly Twitter) to assure the public that the situation was “under control,” but concerns among residents persisted.
“A loud noise was heard, and we all started running,” said Ramiro Medina, a refinery worker. Community representative Edgar Romero added, “We initially thought the smell was from a nearby school being fumigated, but then we smelled gasoline. We hope the authorities take swift action.”
Petroecuador did not disclose how much fuel was in the tank at the time of the fire.
Ecuador, a major South American oil producer, relies heavily on petroleum exports for revenue. In 2024, the country produced about 475,000 barrels of crude daily, exporting nearly three-quarters and earning $8.6 billion from oil sales.
However, production has faced challenges, including power outages caused by the worst drought in six decades, which severely reduced hydroelectric reservoir levels. In March, a major pipeline leak spilled over 25,000 barrels of crude into three rivers, forcing a temporary suspension of exports.
The country operates two other refineries with capacities of 45,000 and 20,000 barrels per day, respectively.
Despite the fire, the government assured in a statement that “fuel supply is fully guaranteed throughout the country.”
