Overview
- Ecuador confirmed a tenfold hike on SOTE transit charges for Colombian crude to $30 per barrel from $3, with Energy Minister Inés Manzano saying the measure took effect Friday.
- Colombia’s energy minister condemned the move as an aggression that threatens production economics, with more than 12,000 barrels per day moved by Ecopetrol through the line reported at risk.
- Colombia previously suspended electricity exports to Ecuador, a country that has relied on imported power and faced severe outages during last year’s dry spell.
- Ecuador plans a 30% “security tariff” on Colombian imports starting Feb. 1, and Colombia has imposed matching 30% tariffs while preparing an additional decree to expand the list of affected Ecuadorian products.
- Ecuador justifies the economic steps as pressure over cross‑border crime, a claim Bogotá disputes by pointing to increased cocaine seizures, including a reported 36.7% rise in border municipalities.