Ecuador is set to shore up its electric system to ensure service during the critical months of the El Niño weather phenomenon, forecast to run from late November through February, President Daniel Noboa said Wednesday.
"We are facing a very harsh weather situation, especially along the coast, though highland areas are also being affected," Noboa said in an interview with Radio Centro in the central city of Ambato.
According to Noboa, adverse weather conditions have led to an increase in disruptions in electricity, with incidents climbing from an average of "20-odd" times per day in a normal year to between 60 and 70 currently.
The government has added more than 400 megawatts of electricity generation capacity by granting permits and providing support to the private sector, with the goal of strengthening the system's capacity, he said.
The announcement comes amid Ecuador's dry season, marked by a lack of rainfall in the southern part of the country, home to the reservoirs that supply the Paute Hydroelectric Complex of the National Interconnected System.
The complex is the country's largest hydroelectric system and supplies about 35% of national electricity demand.
Currently, large industries in Ecuador are facing up to 72 hours of power cuts a week due to the dry season, a measure intended to reduce consumption and ease pressure on the national electrical system.
In 2024, the country went through an unprecedented energy crisis, with power outages lasting up to 14 hours a day that affected households, businesses and industries.
Ecuador was hit with extreme weather from El Niño in 1982-1983 and 1997-1998, including torrential rains and flooding, particularly in the coastal region.