Blackouts reduced Monday as debate continues over Noboa’s claim of a blackout-free December

Power blackouts for Monday through Thursday will be six to seven hours a day, down from last week’s eight hours, the Energy Ministry announced Saturday.

Will blackouts end December 1?

The schedule for Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago Provinces for November 25 to 28 is posted on the Centrosur website.

In its statement on X, the ministry said the reduction of service suspensions is the result of increased rainfall near the Coca Coda Sinclair hydroelectric plant. It also said that light to moderate showers Friday and Saturday near the Paute-Mazar complex raised the water level at the Mazar reservoir, although the turbines at the country largest hydroelectric facility remain out of service.

“The drought continues to impact the country’s hydroelectric generation capacity but rainfall near major facilities is providing some relief,” the ministry said, adding that the weather forecast calls more showers Monday through Friday.

The statement said that under normal conditions, hydro generation provides 72% of Ecuador’s electricity.

In another X post, the ministry “clarified” that the startup date of the Toachi Pilatón hydroelectric plant is December 17, not November 27, as stated in an earlier press statement. The plant, located on the Pichincha, Santo Domingo and Cotopaxi provincial border will have a capacity of 204 megawatts when fully operational.

On Friday and Saturday, President Daniel Noboa’s promise last week that blackouts would end in December set off a political debate. In addition, statements by the Energy Ministry appeared to contradict the president’s prediction.

Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz asked why the Energy Ministry promised to suspend blackouts in Quito December 6, Quito’s Foundation holiday, if blackouts are suspended for the entire country on December 1. “Please explain this, Mr. President, I don’t understand,” Muñoz said.

Also on Saturday, the Energy Ministry announced delays in the beginning of service of several thermal and hydro projects Noboa said would end the blackouts. In addition to Toachi Pilatón, the ministry said 34 mobile thermal power plants being shipped from Houston, Texas and Beirut, Lebanon will not be operational until late January at the earliest.