Energy policy of Ecuador

In 2016, oil made up 30% of Ecuador's total exports at a value $5.05 billion; it ranked as the 55th largest oil exporter in the world.[7] Despite having three small refineries in the Esmeraldas, Shushufundi, and La Libertad sites operated by Petroecuador, the country lacks the ability to refine heavy crude.[4] As such, Ecuador is a net importer of refined fuels, buying mainly from the United States.[8]

The Refinery of the Pacific Eloy Alfaro (RDP), a petrochemical company with a compound currently under development, would allow Ecuador to refine up to 300,000 barrels/day once fully operational. The company is owned by Petroecuador, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, and the China National Petroleum Corporation.[9] The project is estimated to cost $12 billion and return $3 billion/year that would otherwise be spent on refined fuels. It is being constructed in El Aromo, in the coastal province of Manabi. Completion of the refinery would take place in two phases, the first yielding a processing capacity of 200,000 barrels/day and the second adding another 100,000 barrels/day.

The necessary access roads and central camp were completed in 2014.[10] In 2016, the company announced the completion of the La Esperanza Multipurpose Aqueduct, a prerequisite project that would supply the refinery with water necessary for its processes.[11] Despite a current investment sum of $1.23 billion from Petroecuador, the venture has seen financing setback. On August 21, 2017, the minister of hydrocarbons, Carlos Pérez García, announced that the government would not contribute any more funds towards the project and instead turn towards foreign investment.[12] The project has become a point of contention with civilians, advocacy groups, and nationalist political groups due to its heavy reliance on Chinese capital and its contradiction of sumak kawsay, "good living" in Quechua. Sumak kawsay describes the state's harmony with its different ethnic cultures and natural environments. [9]

Ecuador’s 20th constitution (established in 2008) mentions multiple forms of sovereignty, including energy sovereignty. Self-sufficiency is one of the pillars of energy sovereignty as discussed by former President Rafael Correa’s administration. The administration called for the following objectives:

1.) an increase in the capacity for extracting natural resources

2.) a decrease in the imports of processed fuels

3.) a shift in electricity generation towards hydropower facilities.[9]

Another pillar of energy sovereignty previously discussed by the administration is the defense of natural resources against international energy companies.[9]

The change in energy imports does not reflect the original proposal. Since 2008, Ecuador has more than doubled its imports of gasoline/diesel (1.494M tonnes/year to 3.175M tonnes/year) while less than halving its imports of fuel oil (531K tonnes/year to 286K tonnes/year).[13] The contribution of hydropower to electricity, however, does meet the originally proposed plan. It has risen since 2008 (back then at 11,294 GWh), while the electricity generated from oil has decreased (from 5,554 GWh).[13] Ecuador has also increased oil production and exportation. In July 2017, the country announced it would keep increasing exports, publicly breaking rank with OPEC. The organization had promised to lower overall barrel production as global oil prices plummeted. [14]