Rainfall eases power cuts in Ecuador, while authorities still report deficits in electricity generat

(26 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++PART MUTE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Santo Domingo, Ecuador - 25 April 2024
1. Workers entering tunnel of the Toachi-Pilatón hydroelectric project
2. Various of entrance and soldier guarding it
3. Various of turbines
4. Minister of Energy and Mines Roberto Luque at briefing
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Roberto Luque, Minister of Energy and Mines of Ecuador:
"We have increased (the water level) by 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) in the Mazar reservoir since yesterday, this allowed us to resort to fewer power cuts than programmed. All this happened early this morning. Evidently, the hydrological conditions, with the rains we had yesterday in the area of Paute and Mazar are helping us to keep filling the reservoir. Unfortunately, this does not imply that the outages have to cease. When coming here I was told that the electric company in Quito is going to decrease the outage from six to four hours tomorrow."
6. Wide of briefing
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Roberto Luque, Minister of Energy and Mines of Ecuador:
"The advantage we are having with this is that the daily deficit is decreasing every day with the rains. What we have to look for is to reach a full reservoir for the next low-rain season. To give you an idea of what has been happening, in November last year we had a deficit of approximately four to five gigawatts per hour and with that more stable outages can be programmed. That was happening then and it is not happening now."
8. Wide of reporters and workers
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Roberto Luque, Minister of Energy and Mines of Ecuador:
"This time, these eight days we have had daily deficits in the order of 30, 20 (gigawatts). Yesterday, it seems we went down to 16 and now we are going to be at 10. These larger deficits prevent us from being able to make a more stable, coherent, constant programming in time. When we reach values of four or five (gigawatts of deficit) we could have a more lasting plan, which is what the people are justly demanding from us."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Azuay, Ecuador - 17 April 2024
11. Various of the Mazar dams with low water levels ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Ecuadorian authorities on Thursday announced that recent rainfall will ease the programmed power outages in the capital but still reported a deficit in electricity generation.
Speaking at a briefing at the Toachi-Pilatón hydroelectric dam, which supplies electricity to the capital Quito, energy minister Roberto Luque said morning rainfall had allowed them to reduce the power cuts.
With renewed electricity production, Quito will reduce its programmed outages from six to four hours per day.
Luque said he expects that the incoming rainfall could help them plan better for the next low-rainfall season.
The drought affecting southern Ecuador left the Mazar dam, which feeds two crucial hydroelectric power plants in the Andean country, inoperative.
The minimum required for its operation is 2,115 meters above sea level but the National Electricity Corporation reported last week that the dam reached only 1,619 meters above sea level.
Thursday's rains increased the level by 0.8 meters (2.6 feet).
The severe energy crisis affecting the country led the Ecuadorian government to decree the suspension of two working days and an energy rationing.
According to the National Electricity Corporation, 78% of the country's energy comes from hydroelectric sources and the rest from thermal power plants and non-conventional sources such as wind power.
Luque was appointed Minister of Energy last week after the dismissal of his predecessor, Andrea Arrobo.
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