Ecuador adopts measures in the electricity sector in the face of low water

This Ministry of Energy and Mines release was published using machine translation.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines informs the country that, to ensure that the electricity supply remains stable throughout the national territory, it will officially declare the emergency in the electricity sector, through Ministerial Agreement No. MEM-MEM-2023-0022-AM . The objective is to accelerate energy contracting processes and optimize the resources of the country's electrical companies.

Currently, Ecuador faces low flows in the tributaries in the Amazon zone, and a delay in rains in the western zone, due to the impact of the El Niño Phenomenon. There is a limitation in the sale of energy by Colombia and a considerable increase in Its cost. In addition, the country registers an unusual growth in energy demand.

With the declaration of emergency, we accelerated energy contracting processes to sufficiently and timely supply electrical service throughout the country. The declaration also allows the Quito Electric Company, together with the distribution companies, to provide additional energy generation under an agile and transparent procedure.

The Ministerial Agreement orders to immediately begin the repowering of the Machala Termogás Power Plant, with the objective of maximizing its operating capacity. Thus, we will achieve the injection of greater energy for Ecuadorian electrical security.