Ecuador declares nationwide shutdown amid energy crisis
Ecuador on Wednesday ordered all public and private workers to stay home for two days as critically low water levels at hydroelectric plants sparked a major power crisis in the country, AFP reported. President Daniel Noboa decreed "the suspension of the working day" on Thursday and Friday, saying the crisis was a result of "environmental circumstances" but also "unheard-of acts of corruption and negligence." Notably, the country has been experiencing blackouts of up to six hours.
President Noboa addresses power crisis amid multiple challenges
The power crisis in Ecuador follows a security crisis and a financial crisis, leading the country to seek aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a speech in the coastal town of Atacames, Noboa stated, "We've been hammered and hammered and hammered non-stop this week, they've tried to screw us with sabotage in the electric sector." Noboa declared an emergency in the electricity sector on Tuesday, and replaced Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo.
Why is Ecuador facing a blackout?
The drought affecting Ecuador, which also impacts other countries in the region that rely heavily on hydropower, has led to water rationing in Bogota, Colombia's capital city. As a result, electricity exports to Ecuador have been suspended to prevent domestic blackouts. Ecuador is currently facing an energy supply deficit of 22 to 27 gigawatt-hours this month as major power plant reservoirs like Mazar and Paute near depletion.
Government's response to power crisis
A government statement on Wednesday said the reservoir serving the country's Mazar hydroelectric dam stood completely empty, while the nearby Paute dam had storage levels of 4%. Water at Ecuador's largest hydroelectric plant, Coca Codo Sinclair, is 40% lower than its historic average. According to the government statement, a probe showed "indications that high-level officials," including Arrobo, had "intentionally hidden information crucial to the functioning of the national energy system."
Power crisis ahead of crucial referendum
Days before a referendum on Sunday, voters face an energy crisis alongside the decision to approve stricter measures against organized crime in a nation embroiled in violent gang conflicts. Noboa has attributed the power shortage to the prevailing political environment. In January, the president declared Ecuador engaged in an "internal armed conflict" with approximately 20 criminal factions. That came after a wave of violence triggered by the prison escape of a major druglord, who has yet to be recaptured.
