Colombia's Ecopetrol claims that operations have been affected by roadblockades and pipeline attacks

Ecopetrol, Colombia's state oil company, said that its operations were affected by the attacks on Cano Limon - Covenas and Bicentenario and a nationwide strike of truckers which has caused transport to be snarled.

The company said in a press release that the production of hydrocarbons may be affected in the next few days, and this could affect fuel supply.

The protests by truckers, who began Monday, in opposition to government plans to raise diesel prices, threaten to bring Colombia to a standstill, with long traffic jams on the motorways.

The statement stated that "the lack of availability of these pipelines due to the attacks combined with the difficulty of moving tankers containing hydrocarbons and liquid petroleum gas may have an impact on crude oil and natural gas production as well as fuel supplies to Barrancabermeja, Cartagena, and other parts of the nation in the days to come."

It added that social conflict at the company’s Gibraltar Gas Field has also worsened the situation.

(source: Reuters)