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Energy Minister Energy Roberto Luque said Wednesday that two of the three hydroelectric generation plants at the Mazar-Paute complex are increasing power output as a result of recent rains. “The reservoir levels on the Rio Paute have risen quickly over the past week, and electric production capacity is improving,” he said at a Quito news...

President Daniel Noboa thanked voters on Tuesday for supporting his anti-crime and anti-corruption measures in Sunday’s referendum. “The people have spoken and our next step is to work even harder,” he said. He took the occasion to also praise investigators and police for the capture of Los Lobos gang boss Fabricio Colón Pico who was...

The National Institute of Meteorology (Inamhi) reported moderate to heavy rain over most of southern Ecuador Tuesday and predicted more to come through the end of the week. In a statement, Inamhi reported the rainfall has increased the level of the Paute River that feeds the country’s largest complex of hydroelectric generation plants. Despite yesterday’s...

A Miami jury found former Ecuador Comptroller Carlos Pólit guilty of all counts Tuesday, including charges on accepting and laundering millions of dollars in bribes from the giant Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. The prosecution proved that Pólit transferred the money to a U.S. account managed by his son who invested it in real estate and...

By Marc Jones Ecuador is scoping out new debt-for-nature swaps, one to funnel funds into the Amazon rainforest and another for a giant ocean protection zone backed by Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. The South American country is looking to build on the record-breaking $1.6 billion debt swap...

Energy Minister Roberto Luque said the government is resuming negotiations with several private companies for electricity generation services. “The talks ended in December when the country’s hydro generation improved but we’re talking again because of the new crisis,” he said. Under emergency contracting provisions, Luque said diesel or gas power generation barges could be installed...

Only hours after Ecuadorian voters approved sweeping new anti-crime measures, police announced the capture of the fugitive leader of one of the country’s most powerful criminal gangs. Fabricio Colón Pico, leader of Los Lobos, had been on the run since escaping prison in early January and was included among the country’s “most wanted” men. Officials...

Ecuadorians voted overwhelmingly for President Daniel Noboa’s referendum questions to fight crime in Sunday’s national referendum, particularly ones that allow the armed forces to assist police. On the other hand, voters rejected two unrelated questions, signaling they are not willing to give the president a blank check. Two questions that passed will allow the armed...