The country’s hydroelectric facilities are in danger due to the worst drought in decades, therefore Ecuador is going to institute nationwide nighttime blackouts and teleworking in the public sector, the administration said on Tuesday.
Due “to the worst drought in the last 61 years and aim to responsibly manage the control of our electrical system,” the measures will go into effect on Thursday, according to a statement from the president.
Next week, Monday through Thursday, there will be an eight-hour power outage every night from 10:00 pm onwards because of the drought that is damaging the reservoirs of many hydroelectric facilities, which are the primary source of electricity for the country.
“The established cut-off time has been chosen with the aim of generating the least possible impact on productive activities and the working day,” added the president.
It further stated that teleworking would be introduced in the public sector on Thursday and Friday of this week and the following week.
A general blackout scheduled to last eight hours starting at 10:00 pm on Wednesday was previously announced by the government as part of “preventive maintenance” on the electricity transmission infrastructure.
The South American nation, which is beset by gang violence, will implement a curfew in addition to it, according to Interior Minister Monica Palencia.
Due to the drought, Ecuador implemented up to 13 hours of daily electricity restriction in April.
A government-hired thermal power-generating barge will supply at least 100 MW of the nation’s approximately 1,000 megawatt energy gap.
