Drought hits hydroelectric dam, triggers energy crisis in Ecuador

subscribe

The current drought has reduced waterlevels at the Paute dam, where the hydroelectric station provides 60 percent of Ecuador's electricity, triggering a severe energy crisis in the country, energy authorities said.

The National Center for Energy Control (Cenace) said water was currently flowing at 50 cubic meters per second, far below the dam's 120-cubic-meter capacity.

"If we do not start rationing energy use, we could be talking about new power cuts here," said Rene Morales, director of the Hidropaute hydroelectric station.

Although Cenace issued an alert last week in response to the shortages, there is no evidence consumers have reduced electricity use. The warning has even been ignored by the country's government departments, Radio Quito reported.

The ministries of Agriculture, Foreign Trade and Environment did not have any consumption reduction plan, it said.

Natural disasters had already caused problems for Ecuador's power production. For example, the eruption of the Tungurahua Volcano has halted production at the country's another major power station - Hydroagoyan.

Cenace director Gabriel Arguello said demand for electricity had risen by 7 or 8 percent in recent days. Ecuadorians voluntarily reduced consumption by 5 percent from October to January to ease power shortages, Arguello said.

Related News

sonoma fireflighter

PG&E says power lines may have started 2 California fires

SANTA ROSA, Calif - Pacific Gas & Electric Co. power lines may have started two wildfires over the weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area, the utility said Monday, even though widespread blackouts were in place to prevent downed lines from starting fires during dangerously windy weather.

The fires described in PG&E reports to state regulators match blazes that destroyed a tennis club and forced evacuations in Lafayette, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) east of San Francisco.

The fires began in a section of town where PG&E had opted to keep the lights on. The sites were not designated as a high…

READ MORE

German renewables deliver more electricity than coal and nuclear power for the first time

READ MORE

tca-electric-leads-hydrogen-crane-project-at-vancouver-port

TCA Electric Leads Hydrogen Crane Project at Vancouver Port

READ MORE

bc electricity demand

BC Hydro Expects To See Electricity Usage Rise This Holiday Season

READ MORE

power lines

Buyer's Remorse: Questions about grid modernization affordability

READ MORE