EC - Colombia oil production cut by nearly 50K bbl/day on roadblock Ecopetrol says

Ecopetrol ( NYSE: EC ) and other energy firms operating in Colombia raised concerns Monday about a roadblock in the country's Meta province, which has led to production cuts of 49.5K bbl/day of oil.

The roadblock is impeding movement on the road between Puerto Gaitan and Rubiales, preventing fuel from reaching oil operations, the companies said, adding more than 5K oil workers and their families have been hurt by the protest, which has continued for seven days.

The companies also said the protests are affecting operations at refineries in Cartagena and Barrancabermeja, putting Colombia's fuel supplies at risk.

Ecopetrol ( EC ) recently said it would cut production at its Barrancabermeja refinery to 210K bbl/day from 230K bbl/day because of farmer protests in Magdalena Medio.

Ecopetrol ( EC ) said late last month that CEO Felipe Bayon will step down at the end of March after more than five years in the position .

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