Blackouts drop to five hours a day this weekend and to three December 9 to 15

Citing improving hydrological conditions near the country’s hydroelectric facilities, the Energy Ministry announced Wednesday that it will reduce daily blackouts to five hours Friday through Sunday and to three hours from December 9 to 15.

The level of the Mazar reservoir is expected to rise as a result of recent rain.

The ministry also cited increased energy transfers from Colombia and the addition of new and repaired thermal generation plants to the power grid.

Following a Wednesday meeting with the directors of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Energy Minister Inés Manzano said the short- and mid-term weather forecast is for increased rainfall. “We expect more showers this week and in coming weeks,” she said. “The repowering of our hydroelectric plants plus additional generation from thermal plants allows us to reduce the time of power suspensions.”

As a result of higher river flow rates, the Coca Codo Sinclair plant in Napo Province produced 800 to 900 megawatts on Wednesday, production the ministry said will continue. The three plants at the Paute-Mazar complex in Azuay and Cañar Provinces, were also producing electricity although the ministry said it intends to keep the plants idle “most of the time” to allow the water level in the Mazar reservoir to recover.

Rain Tuesday and Wednesday in the Cajas Mountains has raised river levels in Cuenca.

Another hydro plant in Azuay Province, San Francisco Mines, remained idle although the level of the Jubones River, where it is located, was reported to be rising.

The updated schedule for blackouts in Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago Provinces, from Friday, December 6 through December 15, is posted on the Centrosur website.