MAE Sets Oil-Production Roadmap Around Stabilization, Private Marginal Fields

Ecuador's energy ministry is shifting its oil-production message from headline growth targets to stabilization and targeted private participation.

El Universo reports that the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MAE) has set a roadmap to increase crude extraction through two axes: stabilizing pumping and strategically using private companies.

Vice Minister of Hydrocarbons Eduardo Racines said one strategy for the remainder of the year is to launch a new tender for private initiative.

Production Baseline

El Universo reports that Petroecuador has not surpassed the 360,000-barrel-per-day threshold, while private operators increased output by at least 5,000 barrels per day year over year.

Despite lower export volumes, higher international oil prices lifted Oriente and Napo crude export revenue by 2.83% to $2.399 billion.

Gas And Marginal Fields

El Universo reports that natural-gas production rose 5.25% year over year in the first four months, from 379,000 barrels of oil equivalent in 2025 to 399,000 BOE in 2026.

Minister Juan Carlos Blum said Campo Amistad production could rise from the current 30 million cubic feet per day toward about 45 million cubic feet per day by mid-June or late June.

The ministry is preparing a tender for 11 marginal-field blocks currently operated by Petroecuador and producing less than 1% of national output.

Racines said the process would launch at the end of this year and that new operators, with more investment and technology, could multiply output from those blocks by three or four times.

What To Watch

• Publication of the tender terms for the 11 marginal-field blocks.
• Whether Petroecuador stabilizes around the 360,000 bpd level before attempting growth.
• Campo Amistad production data in mid-to-late June.
• ARCH production reports showing whether private operators continue outperforming the state baseline.

Source: El Universo