State-owned oil company Petroecuador has declared an emergency in its main crude transport line, the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), following landslides triggered by activity from the El Reventador volcano in Napo province.

Classified as "unforeseeable" under the nation's Public Procurement Law, the measure is intended to accelerate urgent contracts for mitigation work to protect the infrastructure from spills and structural damage, the newspaper Primicias reported. 

The emergency declaration is in effect for 60 days, allowing for direct contracts for specialized services like slope stabilization, drainage, and pipeline reinforcement.

The SOTE pipeline transports more than 60% of Ecuador's oil from Amazonian fields to the port of Esmeraldas. It runs through one of the country’s most unstable areas, which is also plagued by regressive erosion from the Coca River.

However, this is not the first time the major oil pipeline has declared an emergency this year, as a similar measure was announced earlier this year along the same vulnerable section. 

A previous erosion-related shutdown in July of both the SOTE and the private OCP pipeline lasted nearly a month, slashing national production and causing losses of more than $100 million from halted exports.

While the new declaration has not completely stopped the flow of crude, Petroecuador warned of imminent risks if the erosion and volcanic activity continue to advance. 

Technicians are working on "Variant No. 10" of the SOTE, a two-kilometer detour in one of the most geologically vulnerable zones.

Petroecuador said in a Facebook post that the goal is to prevent a rupture and ensure the continued transport of about 330,000 barrels per day, with official estimates indicating that each day of suspension could mean losses exceeding $20 million.

"We are acting with the utmost urgency to protect the infrastructure and prevent a major environmental impact," Petroecuador said in a statement. 

Experts warn that unless the ground is stabilized and the pipeline route redesigned, the risk of future disruptions will remain high.