🚨 Ecuador: The power grid is once again dependent on rainfall due to a lack of backup generation

💧 The El Niño phenomenon brought the dry season forward and reduced river flows. The Mazar reservoir, the system’s key reserve, is just 18.29 meters from the critical level that would force the turbines to shut down.

🏭 Daniel Noboa’s administration ordered the addition of 1,650 MW (megawatts) of new generation capacity, but according to CENACE (the National Electricity Operator), only 126.5 MW actually came online: 7.7% of what was planned.

⚡️ Electricity demand today is peaking at 5,634 MW. Without new thermal reserves, Ecuador is once again relying on rainfall, as happened in 2024, the year of blackouts lasting up to 16 hours.