Colombian Ecopetrol warns of risk of fuel shortages due to refinery blockades

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol warned on Wednesday, May 26, of the risk of fuel shortages due to blockades on the access roads to the Barrancabermeja refinery, the main refinery in the country, as part of the protests against the government.

Ecopetrol said that “a group of people, with the support of the Unión Sindical Obrera (USO)”, has been blocking the roads leading to the Barrancabermeja refinery yesterday, in the department of Santander, in the center-east of the country.

“The situation puts at risk the normal supply of petroleum fuels, violates the right to work, and prevents the free movement of workers and families residing in the refinery facilities,” warned the company in a statement.

Since April 28, Colombia has been immersed in a wave of protests by unions and social sectors against the government of President Iván Duque, and for this Wednesday, the fifth day of a national strike has been called. However, popular support for the demonstrators has diminished.

According to official data, 19 deaths have been confirmed in connection with the protests, out of 43 reported to the authorities.

The demonstrations have resulted in blockades of highways and avenues in many parts of the country, preventing the free circulation of people, food, medicines, or industrial supplies.

According to Ecopetrol, Colombia’s largest company, the load of the Barrancabermeja refinery is maintained at more than 200,000 barrels per day “with fuel deliveries following the country’s consumption”, but may be compromised.

“Hydrocarbon refining in Colombia is a public utility activity and constitutes an essential service for health care and passenger transportation. Its suspension puts fundamental rights at risk,” the company added.

Ecopetrol has two refineries, one in Barrancabermeja and one in Cartagena.