Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Esmeraldas (Spanish pronunciation: [ezmeˈɾaldas]) is a coastal city in northwestern Ecuador. It is the seat of the Esmeraldas Canton and the capital of the Esmeraldas Province. It has an international sea port and a small airport (IATA location identifier: ESM). Esmeraldas is the major seaport of northwestern Ecuador. It lies on the Pacific coast at the mouth of the Esmeraldas River. The city is the chief trading centre for the region's agricultural and lumber resources but is lacking in industrial development. Esmeraldas is home to the majority of the Afro Ecuadorian population. It is the terminus of the 313-mile (504-km) Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline from the oil fields in northeastern Ecuador. Esmeraldas is exactly at the antipodes of Padang, Indonesia.

Economy

The port of Esmeraldas is important for the northern part of Ecuador. Here is exported mainly wood and astilla. Also exports banana and other agricultural products. The Balao port is the oil port of Ecuador. The city of Esmeraldas beach is beautiful and weekends with culinary attention, nightlife and quite fun.

Agriculture and livestock

The soil allows the production of rice, maize, African Palm, albacá and a variety of tropical fruits. Among the main forest species are: chanul, raft, laurel, sande, guayacán and tangaré. Cattle and pig rearing is important. Marine resources of fish (corvina, snapper, lisa, tuna, etc.) are abundant and varied constituting in important category of its economy.

Industry

There is manufacturing, timber, chemicals and the oil industry. In 1987, was the first enlargement of the oil refinery to 90,000 barrels per day (14,000 m³/d). Later, in 1995, began the second enlargement to 110,000 barrels (17,000 m³) to treat 23 to 27 ° API crude. Currently, the refinery is equipped with electronic instrumentation. At the same time, the REE works basis an automated system known as system control distributed Master (DCS), which was created for the control and monitoring of oil refining processes automatically. This system covers several areas, described below: the area of generation steam and electric (utilities)-discharge of filtered, clarified, and pre-listening water for River Esmeraldas which is used for human consumption and also for the generation of steam to be used in four turbo generators enabling power generation (30 MW) in order to meet the internal energy demands. In addition, the plant is connected to system electric networked (SIN) emergency. The raw space where oil comes from the East-is stored in several tanks, which is suctioned by a system of pumping to send it to a distillery system where oil is washed to get the largest amount of sulphur and impurities. The crude East arrives with a temperature of 34 °C, but once out of the distillery, oil reaches to 125 °C. Warming continues, the temperature kiln reaches the 360 °C. After this process enters oil to the atmospheric Tower, where from the bottom is injected together 150 PSI steam achieves the displacement of gases initial products. It will with lighter gases be diesel, kerosene, circulating gasoline and naphtha, respectively. At the same time, the naphtha cools to maintain the thermal profile Tower, which in turn is processed to continue refining crude reduced in the empty drive. Catalytic cracking-space is based on breakdown of molecules by means of a catalyst in the presence of temperature. Initially has an entry of the burden of diesel as a by-product of the Tower vacuum funds. Diesel fuel meets a catalyst to 700 °C. temperature, which produces a breakdown of long chains of hydrocarbons are to be small strings. Cracking plant-Generates two products: gasoline high-octane 93 octane, 53.400 kg. / time of gasoline and 20,000 kg/hour. liquefied gas (LPG) oil. These fuels have a cost and savings for the country of $1 million daily. The continuous regeneration of catalyst (RACs)-is a plant whose objective is to produce gasoline high-octane, hydrogen and LPG, taking as loads light naphtha. Operational capacity of the plant is 10,000 barrels per day (1,600 m³/d).

This petrol is used for mixtures because of its high content in aromatics. The plant hydrodesulphurization (HDS)- main function is to eliminate sulphur that comes of crude oil a DH1 oven and a DR1, reactor at high temperatures (320 °C) and with a stream of hydrogen, for the finished product reaches a maximum of 0.05% sulphur, that is optimal for the market, also known as diesel premium. Current production plant is 114 thousand tonnes per day. In 2004, the refinery produced derivatives for a value of $958,256,506. Incidentally, the cost of refining is barely $3.21 barrel (year 2003 was $3.40). The REE contributed with 61% of national demand for fuels. The residue retrieved refined oil is 55% of the burden to the unity of crude oil, for which we need another plant high conversion, to retrieve more clean, products such as diesel, petrol, etc. The REE technicians have proposed, compared to the policy of granting of the current regime, a project highly profitable for the construction of a "conversion high plant" an estimated cost of $180 million to process waste, increase the value added to the oil today sold in the absence of a plant to treat the residual burden that has grown by the quality of degrees lower fuel ° API crude oil from the East. The project includes the construction of a "Isomerizadora", which will allow to obtain high-octane; petrol thus seeks decrease the high cost of imports of derivatives, that in 2004 exceeded $790 million. In conclusion, the profitability of the refinery is in sight, by which the State has the obligation to comply with the country supporting the workers project that seeks to increase the production of derivatives and reduce import; but above all, ensure that the operation are maintained in the hands of technicians of the State.

Climate

Tourism

Beaches, virgin forests, indigenous Cayapas, marimba and afro-ecuatoriana dance archaeological zone La Tolita, Islands, flora and fauna. Near this small town that borders the North with the Colombian border and West with the Pacific Ocean, there are beaches that are no more than 30 km away and that have the hotel infrastructure that meet the demanding tastes of tourists. These include Atacames, famous for the "crazy coconut" (typical drink made with coconut water) and its handicrafts in black and Red;coral. Saami, an area of large Palms which extends by serene waters and blue; Muisne, with pristine beaches of warm sand inhabited by Red crabs in a tropical atmosphere; Quinindé, with vast Palms Africans and cane guadúa; houses, and Tonsupa, where it is beautiful to observe the sunsets. Typical meals of these beaches that are maintained with an average of 25 °C November to May, and 18 ° to 23 ° June to October, are the meats pork, beef, fish, lobster and shrimp, green bananas and cassava in various dishes.

The green (Esmeraldas) as it is known popularly, is located in the North-West coast of the country and its beaches are without doubt, one of the province main attractions. 30 km from the city of Esmeraldas is Atacames, receiving tourists all year and also known as the beach of the Quiteños, by its proximity to Quito. It has a broad pier where you can find good restaurants; al fresco, with the best of typical food in the region. Next to the beach, bars offer typical drinks with coconut, water-based mainly. Here, the bars never sleep. Ahí nunca se duerme los bares, bars allow you to drink the best exotic drinks that you can imagine and dancing all night without stopping, is ideal music and hear as waves collide with the beach, giving more pace to music, bonfires and hammocks that move at night allow people to see a wonderful show. Five kilometres south is a distinctively quiet village of fishermen that also offers places to stay and a beautiful beach ideal for walking by boat.

Towards the Southwest 11 km, Same rises in the midst of Palm trees and crystal clear waters. 48 km, it is the Muisne island with pristine beaches and waters peaceful ideals to relax and enjoy the sea breeze. The "encocado fish", prepared with coconut, very popular among residents and travelers juice is tested for the palate. Other typical dishes are: tapao fish and banana, patacones, empanadas, balls and bolones green, also with banana as a basis. In a journey through the area much money is not needed as life is not face in the area, is more, we could say that it is relatively comfortable.

The U.S. State Department advises caution when traveling to the northern border region of Ecuador, including Esmeraldas. "U.S. government personnel are under limitations with respect to traveling alone and over-nighting in these areas due to the spread of organized crime, drug trafficking, small arms trafficking, and incursions by various Colombian terrorist organizations," the State Department's travel advisory section notes. Most of the uprise in violence is do to the recent flock of Colombian immigrants entering Ecuador via Esmeraldas.

Infrastructure

It is basically composed of a road along the coast by joining Tola lizard Montalvo, Rocafuerte, Green River, shrimp, Tachina, San Mateo;

Other routes are: Esmeraldas - Atacames - distinctively - Union - Muisne - Esmeraldas - Quinindé (Rosa Zamora) with direction to Santo Domingo and Quito;

The latter sector independence joins the new path that comes from the Pichincha province and also passes through San Miguel banks and Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Quito - San Lorenzo rail network is still used, although it is possible that in not too distant future is replaced by a road. Located in the population of Tachina General Cordero Airport, serves the national and international flights.

References

External links

• Map of Esmeraldas