Crisis in Ecuador

No electricity: persistent drought paralyzes power plants

(Bild: APA/AFP/Edwin Tapia)

A prolonged drought has paralyzed two important hydroelectric power plants in Ecuador. The government of the South American country has declared a state of emergency due to the resulting bottlenecks in the power supply.

Due to the drought - which is linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon - the country's reservoirs are at historic lows. In order to ration energy, power was switched off in some parts of Ecuador on Thursday - for up to 13 hours.

Too little water for electricity production
The lack of rainfall and the resulting drop in water levels have led, among other things, to the loss of electricity production at the power plant at the Mazar dam - the water level is simply too low for operation.

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In order to reduce energy consumption, the government in Quito issued a decree suspending work on Thursday and Friday. In addition, electricity rationing was ordered for eight hours a day. 78 percent of the country's energy comes from hydroelectric power plants.

Energy minister and officials relieved
President Daniel Noboa dismissed Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo Pena and a number of other officials. They are accused of concealing the true extent of the energy crisis. According to experts, there has been a failure to invest in the energy sector for years.

Colombia stopped exporting electricity to neighboring countries
The fact that neighboring Colombia, which is also struggling with a drought, has recently stopped exporting electricity to Ecuador has exacerbated the crisis. "There is no simple, short-term solution," said the new acting energy minister Roberto Luque.