Ecuador’s government has implemented power cuts in half of the country’s provinces due to a severe drought that has drastically reduced hydroelectric power generation. The blackout affected 12 of the 24 provinces from 8am to 5pm on Sunday, 22 September, with extended power cuts scheduled nightly from 10pm to 6am until Thursday, 26 September. Nineteen areas have also been placed on red alert.
This drought, the worst in 61 years, has led to a significant drop in water levels at Ecuador’s hydroelectric plants, which generate 71.11% of the country’s electricity. The government also attributes the crisis to insufficient maintenance at the country’s dams.
To address the situation, Ecuador enlisted its military to support operations at the Mazar hydroelectric dam, deploying 50 soldiers trained in hydroelectric systems. However, operations at the Mazar plant and two other hydroelectric dams were suspended on 24 September despite measures that slightly recovered water levels.
The drought in Ecuador follows a broader trend affecting South America’s power supply, with Brazil recently forced to shut down two of its largest hydroelectric plants due to similar conditions.