Ecuador's state oil company Petroecuador has announced the first-ever use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Amazon rainforest. The project is located in the northeastern province of Sucumbíos, on the border with Colombia.

The Ministry of Environment and Energy hailed the fracking at a new well on Block 57 – Shushufindi Libertador as a “milestone” for the country's oil industry. The well is now in full production, yielding over 930 barrels per day.

The operation is being carried out jointly with CCDC, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation. Fracking is widely criticized for its heavy water usage, chemical contamination risks, and potential to trigger micro-earthquakes.

Ecuador's crude oil output fell to around 466,000 barrels per day in January 2026, a 13% drop from a decade earlier. Analysts attribute the decline to aging infrastructure and years of underinvestment.

Oil revenues account for a significant share of Ecuador's export earnings. The government of President Daniel Noboa has pledged increased funding for oil exploration and infrastructure, as well as efforts to attract foreign investment.

However, the administration's push to expand oil drilling, particularly in the Amazon, has alarmed environmentalists and Indigenous leaders, who warn of threats to the region's unique ecosystem and traditional ways of life.

Source: www.dw.com