Ecuador has recently announced an increase in daily power cuts due to a severe drought affecting the nation. The drought has led to decreasing water levels in key hydroelectric plants, which are responsible for generating over 70% of the country's electricity.
The Acting Energy Minister stated that the authorities have decided to implement electricity service suspensions ranging from eight to 14 hours a day across the country. This decision comes as a response to the worsening drought conditions in recent days.
Similar to other South American countries, Ecuador has been grappling with an extended dry season, exacerbating the water scarcity issue.
President Daniel Noboa had previously mentioned that he expected the power cuts in the country, which has a population of 17 million, to gradually decrease. However, the situation has not improved as anticipated.
The Energy Minister acknowledged the hardships faced by the population amidst this serious electricity crisis. The government has been working to address the challenges posed by the drought and its impact on the power supply.
Since mid-September, Ecuador has been operating an electricity rationing system, with some cities experiencing up to 10 hours of power cuts per day. The recent announcement of extended power cut hours marks the most severe measure taken thus far.
The drought affecting multiple countries in South America has been attributed to the El Nino weather phenomenon, which has disrupted normal weather patterns and led to below-average rainfall levels.
