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17 Mar 2025 — 5 min read

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As of March 17, 2025, an oil spill in northwestern Ecuador has affected the Esmeraldas region following a landslide that damaged a pipeline in the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) around March 15. The spill has released oil into the Esmeraldas River, discoloring its waters and leading the Emergency Operations Committee in Esmeraldas to declare an environmental emergency. The incident has impacted areas including the town of Cube and poses a risk to the water supply for the city of Esmeraldas, which has a population of over 200,000. Petroecuador, the state-run oil company, is working to contain the spill, but no official figures on the amount of oil spilled have been provided. The SOTE pipeline, which can carry up to 360,000 barrels of crude daily from the Amazon to the Pacific coast, is a key component of Ecuador’s oil export infrastructure.

Oil has spread to hillsides and the river, affecting local ecosystems, crops, and fishing activities, causing a water rationing order in Esmeraldas. Local residents in Cube have attempted to limit the spread by constructing dikes. The full extent of the damage and the timeline for resolution remain unclear, with authorities and Petroecuador yet to release detailed assessments. The situation continues to evolve, with efforts focused on containment and managing immediate impacts on the region’s environment and population.

Economics & Markets:

Geopolitics & Military Activity:

As of March 17, 2025, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has carried out multiple airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping. The largest operation began on March 15, targeting over 60 sites across a broad range of facilities, including weapon storage, radar systems, weapons production sites, and command centers. CENTCOM employed aircraft launched from assets like the USS Harry S. Truman for these precision strikes. The Houthis have reported over 53 deaths and 98 injuries, while the U.S. confirmed successful hits on key targets.

Additional strikes occurred on March 16, continuing to target various Houthi military infrastructure. The Houthis claimed a retaliatory strike with 18 missiles and a drone aimed at U.S. ships, including the Truman, but CENTCOM reported no damage, noting most threats were intercepted. The strikes seek to disrupt Houthi maritime attacks, tied to Iranian backing, though their overall effectiveness is uncertain as the group retains some operational capacity. CENTCOM indicates preparedness for ongoing operations with additional forces positioned in the region.

Environment & Weather:

Space:

Yesterday, March 16, 2025, Russia conducted a space launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region. Roscosmos, Russia’s state space corporation, carried out the mission using an Angara-1.2 light-class rocket, successfully placing military communication satellites into orbit. The three satellites deployed, identified as Rodnik (Kosmos 2585, 2586, and 2587), are part of the Strela family, a series of Soviet and Russian military telecommunication satellites in use since 1964.
The Strela satellites, including the Rodnik type, function as "store-and-forward" systems, storing encrypted messages and images before retransmitting them at scheduled times or on command. Designed with a cylindrical body and a gravity-gradient boom for stabilization, they form a constellation of 12 satellites across two orbital planes, spaced 90° apart. While some sources suggest a lifespan of three months, others indicate they can operate for up to five years. Evolving from the original Strela launched in 1964, the system progressed through versions like Strela-2, Strela-1M, and Strela-2M, with Strela-3 introduced in 1985 and Strela-3M (Rodnik) from 2005. The launch from Plesetsk, primary a military spaceport hosting three of Russia’s four 2025 launches, reflects ongoing efforts to maintain its space capabilities.

Earth Intelligence Update:

New updates have been added to the Earth Intelligence System. In focus mode, you can now filter by month, day, and year as seen on the right side of the image below. Additionally, when an event or market is clicked, you can now expand the container as seen on the left of the image below.