Guayaquil (Ecuador): Colombia has reduced its electricity exports to its neighbour Ecuador due to a drought exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern, where an energy emergency has since been declared, Al Jazeera reported.
"Depending on its strength, El Nino can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world," US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate scientist Michelle L'Heureux said in a statement on NOAA's website.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa acknowledged the critical state of the country's energy sector during a speech in Guayaquil on Tuesday and said, "Today we took a strong decision - once again we had to - which is to declare an emergency in the country's energy sector," as per Al Jazeera
Both Colombia and Ecuador rely on hydropower plants to fulfill their energy demands. However, the ongoing drought has caused a significant decline in water levels, impacting reservoirs utilized for electricity generation.
Jazeera, a certain minimum water flow is necessary to drive the turbines powering hydroelectric plants.
Presently, Colombia's electricity operator XM has reported reservoir levels at only 29.8 per cent of their capacity. Consequently, Colombia has initiated water rationing measures in regions such as Bogota, the capital city.
While speaking to reporters on April 15, Colombia's mining and energy minister, Andres Camacho said that the country was addressing the drought by slowing electricity exports.
"Since Easter week, we limited energy exports to Ecuador. Right now, we are not exporting any electricity," Camacho said.
Ecuador's Minister of Energy and Mines, Andrea Arrobo Pena, issued a statement on Monday addressing the "unprecedented situations" facing the country and the region.
