Case Study: EP Petroecuador achieves faster, safer ship loading and unloading with Rockwell Automation

Petroecuador Optimizes Management With New Automatic Control System

EP Petroecuador needed to modernize operations at its Balao maritime terminal, where aging pumping units and largely manual processes were causing low reliability, long ship unloading times, and operational inefficiencies. To address this, the company selected Rockwell Automation to develop an automatic control system using PlantPAx and PowerFlex 7000 medium-voltage AC drives.

Rockwell Automation implemented and commissioned the integrated solution, including control, instrumentation, and drive systems, and trained terminal staff on its use. The new system tripled ship loading and unloading capacity, cut unloading time for a 200,000-barrel vessel from 120 hours to 35–40 hours, reduced freighter downtime, and improved fuel delivery to the Esmeraldas refinery with safer, more reliable automated operations.

EP Petroecuador

Luis Montaño

Supervisor