Ecuador’s Government cut electricity in half of the country’s provinces on Sunday (22 September) after a drought affected hydroelectricity generation.
In addition to the Sunday blackout from local time 8am and 5pm in 12 of the 24 provinces, 19 areas were placed on red alert.
Extended power cuts are scheduled every night from 10pm to 6am until Thursday (26 September).
The drought – the worst Ecuador has seen in 61 years – has greatly reduced water levels at the country’s hydroelectric plants, which it heavily relies on.
Hydropower is Ecuador’s largest source of electricity generation, constituting 71.11% of the country’s total electricity generation in 2023, according to Power Technology’s parent company GlobalData.
Beside the drought, the Ecuadorian presidency also attributed the power crisis to a lack of maintenance at the country’s dams.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataLast Tuesday (18 September), the government enlisted its military to support operations at the Mazar hydroelectric dam. Around 50 soldiers trained in operating Ecuador’s hydroelectric system have been placed to protect and manage the 170MW of large-scale storage at the site.
On Tuesday (24 September), the government ceased operations at three hydroelectric dams including the Mazar power plant. Energy Minister Antonio Goncalves said that while recent measures helped recover water levels in the reservoir by 1.40m², the situation remains critical.
Droughts have affected power supplies across South America in recent months. In August, Brazil was forced to switch off two of its largest hydroelectric power plants due to a severe drought.