Ecuador's OCP crude pipeline has suspended pumping of supplies for the second time this month, just hours after resuming operations on Monday, July 7 2025. 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 8, the company said the halt was a precautionary measure following erosions of the Quijos River, which posed a potential risk to the key pipeline. 

The operations suspension is the second incident this month after the company previously halted crude pumping through the pipeline due to erosion long the Loco River in Equador’s Amazon region. 

The devastating erosion began along Coca River in 2020. However, it has since expanded over a larger area, causing significant damage to critical oil infrastructure, roadways, and now threatening the operation of Ecuador’s largest power plant, the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant.

Official data showed a sharp drop in Ecuador’s crude oil production on Monday from 465,000barrels per day (bpd) on June 30, to 134,153 bpd on July 7. The drastic drop was witnessed from state-owned company Petroecuador as well as from private companies.

The latest halt in pipeline operation adds to Ecuador’s growing pipeline woes, with another major state-owned oil pipeline, SOTE pipeline, still shut after pumping was halted on July 2 and a force Majeure declared a day later due to heavy rains.