Attack on Caño Limón-Coveñas Pipeline Disrupts Ecopetrol Operations, Spills Oil in Local Gorges

Another attack on Colombia’s Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline prompted Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC | BVC: ECOPETROL) to suspend transporting oil through the conduit and activate its emergency contingency plan, the state-controlled oil giant announced yesterday.

According to the Bogotá-based company, the attack took place at around 4:00 pm on Monday in the town of El Carmen in the department of Norte de Santander and caused an oil spill in the gorges of El Carmen and La Virgen. Local disaster management and environmental authorities have been attempting to respond to the damage since learning of the spill, stated Ecopetrol.

In a statement, Ecopetrol said that it “emphatically rejects these illegal actions” that endanger people, damage the environment, and harm neighboring communities.

This marked the 43rd attack on the Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline so far in 2017, according to Ecopetrol. In addition to Norte de Santander, attacks have been reported in the departments of Arauca, Boyacá, and Cesar.