Emergency declared for refinery; Officials discuss security in El Salvador; Drier weather is on the way

National oil company Petroecuador has declared a state of emergency at the Esmeraldas Refinery as a result of earthquake damage. The refinery, the country’s largest, processes 110,000 barrels of oil a day under normal conditions.

“Because of damage sustained in the April 25 earthquake, most operations at the facility have been suspended,” Petroecuador said in its declaration.

The national weather service predicts drier weather by mid-May.

The company reported repairs are underway to “furnaces, heat exchange tubes and clogged oil lines” but said it is unsure when full operations can resume. “Most of the plant fared well during the earthquake, fortunately, but the damaged to essential components must be repaired and cleaned before refining can continue.”

Petroecuador said suspension of refinery operations requires a reduction in pipeline flow rate from some oil fields, citing the “ripple effect” of the shutdown.

The emergency declaration is required, Petroecuador said, to protect the company from legal non-delivery claims since the earthquake was “an act of nature” and out of control of the company.

Officials discuss security in El Salvador
Ecuador’s Ministers of Interior and Defense held meetings Tuesday and Wednesday in San Salvador to discuss crime and punishment. Gian Carlo Loffredo (Defense) and John Reimberg (Interior) said the meetings with El Salvador officials, including President Nayib Bukele, were intended to provide guidance in Ecuador’s fight against drug-related crime.

“Because of different circumstances and different laws, we cannot adopt all of El Salvador’s response to crime, but we are gaining valuable information we can apply back home,” said Reimberg,

He added that the results of El Salvador’s program to get criminals off the streets and into prison has been one of the most successful in the world. “This country has gone from being one of the most dangerous in Latin American to being one of the safest, and our mission is to witness first-hand how that was accomplished,” Loffredo said.

Beginning five years ago, the Government of Nayib Bukele has constructed nine high security prisons that today house more than 85,000 prisoners. The program has been criticized by human rights groups for violating legal due process for many of those incarcerated but has widespread popular support.

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa has adopted elements of El Salvador prison design in the construction of two prisons in Santa Elena Province, the first of which is expected to open later this year.

Drier weather is on the way
The National Meteorology Institute (INAMHI) reports that rainfall will begin to decrease in most of Ecuador by mid-May. “We are already seeing conditions that will introduce drier air in June, July and August,” the institute says.

In its statement, INAMHI said that the “interplay between the Amazon and Pacific Ocean” are the primary factors in Ecuador’s weather. “This interaction can be unpredictable, as it has over the past two years, but based on the historic record, we are moving into a period of less precipitation and lower humidity,” the service said.

INAMHI said the country has experienced “extraordinary weather circumstances” since late 2023, including the worst drought in history followed by near-record rainfall from December 2024 through April. “Although we recognize the effects of climate change, we believe the weather is returning to seasonal norms through the end of 2025,” the institute said.