O Ecuadorwhich has been facing a serious electrical crisis since April due to the drought, will apply new power cuts of up to ten hours a day to “avoid the collapse” of the national electricity system, announced the Minister of Energy, António Gonçalves, this Wednesday 9.
“Our country is going through a critical energy situation. The level of the Mazar dam (southern Andean) is close to its minimum limit and projections indicate that immediate and firm decisions must be taken to avoid a collapse in the national electrical system”, said the minister on a national radio and television network.
Last week, the government reduced blackouts to a maximum of six hours a day because the rains recorded amid the worst drought in six decades slightly improved the level of the reservoirs that feed the main hydroelectric plants.
However, the situation worsened again.
Gonçalves highlighted that “from noon today (Wednesday) power cuts of up to ten hours a day will be rescheduled, with the exception of some industrial sectors, which have a different schedule that will allow them to meet their savings quota by trying minimize the impact.”
On Monday, businesspeople denounced the rationing directed at industries and expressed fear of possible job losses and even shortages of basic products, in addition to the economic consequences.
The new rationing until October 13th will be applied at different times and by sectors, as has been done since the beginning of the current phase of service cuts, in September.
Users complain about non-compliance with schedules and every week the authorities change the blackout times.
Three months ago, the drought reduced hydroelectric dams, which cover 70% of national energy demand, to historic lows.
