On March 16, 2026, the Esmeraldas Refinery restarted its operations progressively after facing a significant disruption due to an incident on March 1. Petroamazonas, the state-owned oil company, announced that this resumption of activities is following a well-defined recovery plan. In this initial operational phase, the Crude 2 and Vacuum 2 units were among the first to come back online, marking an important milestone for the refinery's recovery efforts.

The Crude 2 unit has a substantial installed capacity of 55,000 barrels per day, and its activation is crucial not only for the refinery's operations but also for the national supply chain. The Esmeraldas Refinery is unique as it is Ecuador's sole industrial facility producing asphalt, highlighting the significance of this operational resumption for the country’s infrastructure needs. As the process unfolds, it is expected to stabilize supply, particularly of asphalt, which is essential for road maintenance and construction.

Moreover, the resumption of these units will allow the refineries to resume production of Jet A1 fuel as well, which is vital for the aviation sector. The advancements in this restart process emphasize the technical expertise involved and represent a critical step for Petroamazonas in ensuring that the operational capacity of the refinery meets national demands, all while addressing the logistical challenges posed by the incident earlier this month.