Weekend rain stalls Mazar reservoir water drop but it will be short-lived, forecasters say

The light to moderate rain that fell in Cuenca Saturday night and Sunday will provide temporary relief for the Mazar reservoir but engineers at the hydroelectric complex said the drop in water level is likely to resume early this week.

Weekend rains provided temporary relief at the Mazar reservoir.

“This was very welcome relief and it increases the flow of the Rio Paute into the reservoir,” said Juan Robalino, an Ecuador Electric Corporation (CELEC) spokesman. “Temporarily, it could increase the water level but we are increasing generation activity today (Monday) and this will probably reestablish the downward trend.”

CELEC announced Sunday that the three generation stations at the Mazar complex will increase generation to compensate for reduced production at the Coca Codo Sinclair hydro complex in Napo Province. The flow rate on the Rio Coca, which powers Coca Codo, was 224 cubic meters per second Monday while the generators require a 250 cubic meters per second rate for optimum operation.

Coca Coda uses “flow-through” generation technology and depends on the flow rate of the Rio Coca and does not have a reservoir.

In a statement. CELEC said the Mazar turbines will operate at “near capacity” for several days until conditions at Coca Coda Sinclair improve.” At maximum capacity, Mazar can produce 1,800 megawatts of electricity while Coca Coda can produce 1,400 MW. On Sunday, Coca Coda generation was 800 MW.

Monday afternoon, the Mazar reservoir stood at 2,134 meters above sea level, 19 meters above the level considered critical for operations.

According to CELEC, weather conditions near Mazar and Coca Coda Sinclair will return to a “dry pattern” early this week following three days of cloud cover and light rain. CELEC added that weekend rainfall near the Rio Paute basin averaged six millimeters (1/4 inch).

“By the end of the week, we expect a return of airflow from the Amazon and this should produce rainfall to replenish the Rio Coca,” CELEC said.