April 2018. The first of three new power plants run on associated gas to be set in operation at the Sacha field (Province of Orellana) this year was opened April 4 by the Ecuadorian Government through Petroamazonas EP. These plants, together with the recently opened Central de Cuyabeno plant, will incorporate 15 MW of power to the electrical systems of Petroamazonas EP.

Under its Department of Energy Solutions, Petroamazonas EP develops an Energy Efficiency Program that is focused on optimizing the power generation of the company and is based on agreements with the Electricity Corporation of Ecuador, Celec EP. The public company has eight projects using associated gas as fuel for the period 2018-2020 totaling 60 MW of power.

In cooperation with CELEC EP, 33 MW will be generated by plants running on associated gas in the Edén and Shushufindi fields; 9 MW in the Auca field; 3 MW by the second phase of the Cuyabeno plant; and 15 MW by the Sacha Sur, Sacha Central and Sacha Norte 2 projects.

With the projects to be developed in 2018, the increase in the use of associated gas for power generation will amount to 3.6 million cubic feet per month, reducing emissions by a total of 70,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Thus, the use of 8.7 million gallons of diesel imported per year has been replaced, with savings of USD 19 million per year only in this sector.

The power generation plants in the Cuyabeno and Sacha Norte 2 fields have been set in operation in 2018, a third plant will be set in operation in Sacha Central in July and another plant is planned for Sacha Sur by the end of this year.

This initiative is part of the public policy of the Ecuadorian Government to develop hydrocarbon projects with innovation, technology, and social and environmental responsibility while optimizing operations to improve the profitability of oil activities in the country.

In 2017, the company produced an average of 425,000 barrels of oil per day at a cost of USD 17.26 per barrel.