- Ecuador’s government has announced that electricity service will be suspended for nine hours on Sunday in 12 of the Andean nation’s 24 provinces.
- Ecuador is gripped by the worst drought in 61 years, and an energy crisis made worse by what the government says is a lack of maintenance of existing dams and contracts.
Ecuador‘s government announced the suspension of electricity service for nine hours on September 22 in 12 of the Andean nation’s 24 provinces and placed 19 areas on red alert due to a drought that has reduced the water levels of hydroelectric plants.
The Ecuadorian presidency said in a statement released on September 21 night on X that the blackout in the provinces would last from 8:00 a.m. local time until 5:00 p.m. This is in addition to the government’s plans announced on Tuesday for eight-hour nightly power cuts nationwide from Monday to Thursday.
Ecuador is gripped by the worst drought in 61 years, and an energy crisis made worse by what the government says is a lack of maintenance of existing dams and contracts to ensure new energy generation.
Ecuadorian authorities said the extra electricity suspension for Sunday was based on “protecting water resources.” The measure was taken after a Saturday night session of the Emergency Operations Committee.
“We are in 19 provinces with shortages of water, fires and food security (issues),” Environment Minister Ines Manzano told reporters in Cuenca on Saturday. “The corresponding entities must accept and comply with the resolution declaring a red alert.”
After the government announced the planned power cuts on Tuesday, the military entered the Mazar hydroelectric plant, which has about 170 megawatts and is considered key for its large storage capacity, to support and protect its operation.