Colombia Resumes Electricity Exports to Ecuador Amid Energy Deficit Concerns

Colombia is set to restart electricity exports to Ecuador after a five‑month suspension that followed a diplomatic dispute. Energy Minister Edwin Palma said the supply will be restored gradually to help re‑establish mutual energy security.

Ecuador faces a severe power shortfall of roughly 1,100–1,300 MW because prolonged droughts and the current El Niño event have lowered hydro‑reservoir levels, causing blackouts lasting up to 14 hours. Analysts note that Colombia can supply at most one‑third of that deficit, and the export is limited to surplus capacity that private operators have available under Resolution 40.306 of Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Researcher Ghaio Nicodemos describes the arrangement as a “blank check,” arguing that without substantial investment in modernising Ecuador’s grid and diversifying its energy mix, the temporary boost will not resolve the country’s longer‑term dependency on external power.