Coca Codo Sinclair reduces power generation due to river sediment

The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, Ecuador’s largest facility, temporarily reduced power generation on September 14, 2026, due to an extraordinary increase in river sediment. To protect infrastructure and turbines from damage caused by high concentrations of rocks, mud, and debris, operators closed the intake gates.

The surge in sediment followed a significant rise in the Coca River’s flow, which jumped from an average of approximately 307 cubic meters per second between September 1 and 13 to over 700 cubic meters per second on the morning of the 14th. This reduction in generation led to unplanned power outages in several sectors of Quito, including La Floresta, Iñaquito, and González Suárez.