Industry and business blackouts extended as hydro production drops and Colombian transfers dwindle

Industries and large businesses face a second week of 72-hour electric disconnections as Ecuador’s power crisis continues. The Energy Ministry announced Saturday morning that declining generation from major hydroelectric plants was responsible for the extension.

A tourist boat sits on dry land as the level of the Mazar reservoir recedes.

In a statement, the ministry said that weekend rains forecast for the inter-mountain valley were weaker than expected, putting additional strain on the country’s hydroelectric plants. CNEL also said that electricity transfers from Colombia were “welcomed but minimal,” contributing less than 1% to the power grid Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, after they were announced, transfers from Colombia covered more than 1.6% of national consumption.

The ministry warned that without “substantial rainfall,” power disconnections could be extended. “We hope this does not become necessary but we may be forced to take additional measures to protect Ecuador households from disruptions,” it said.

The Guayaquil Chamber of Industries complained Sunday that the government extended power disconnections beyond 72 last week. “Reconnections are being delayed by eight to 10 hours a day without explanation,” a chamber spokeswoman said in a radio interview. “For some of our members, the blackouts were as long as 92 hours last week and our calls to Centrosur were not answered. We have asked to meet with officials but have received no response.”

The Monday morning report from the National Electricity Corporation (CNEL) showed below-average reservoir levels and river flows at the country’s six largest hydro plants. Mazar reservoir, which powers three generation plants, operates at only seven meters above minimum level, a drop of more than four meters in the past seven days. On Sunday, the Mazar plants produced an average of 650 megawatts, less than 40% of capacity.

The reservoir at the Agoyan plant in Tungurahua Province was 2.8 meters above shut-off level while it was 1.8 meters above level at Minas San Francisco in Azuay Province. Coca Coda Sinclair, the country’s largest hydro plant, was operating at 50% capacity as a result of reduced flow of the Rio Coca.