🇪🇨 Ecuador is facing an electricity crisis due to climate disruptions caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which have exacerbated an early dry season in the Andean basin. The six main hydroelectric plants contributed just 48.71% of national demand, resulting in a drastic drop from their usual levels of between 70% and 84%. The strategic Mazar reservoir fell to 2,125 meters above sea level, just 10 meters from its critical limit.

⚠️ Rough seas prevented ships from docking to refuel the power barges, causing a sudden loss of approximately 300 megawatts of thermal power.

📉 In response to the emergency, the government has mandated scheduled power outages of up to 72 hours per week for the industrial sector, while the National Electricity Operator (Cenace) is preparing reports to implement residential rationing, according to official sources speaking to Radio Pichincha.