Ecuador implements 48-hour power cuts for 9,000 companies

Ecuador is implementing scheduled 48-hour power disconnections for 9,089 medium and high-voltage companies over the next two weeks. The measure, organized by geographic sectors, aims to reduce electricity demand and preserve water levels in the Mazar reservoir, which is facing critical lows due to the El Niño phenomenon and seasonal drought.

The affected group includes 185 companies in the High Voltage 1 segment, four in High Voltage 2, and 8,900 medium-voltage companies. Major industrial players such as mining companies Ecuacorriente and Lundin Gold, as well as steel producers Adelca and Novacero, are among those impacted. Unlike previous rationing periods, these specific cuts target the industrial sector and do not include households or commercial businesses.

Technical experts from the Consejo Consultivo de Ingenierías y Economía have warned that if water levels in Mazar continue to drop, the country could face daily outages averaging seven hours, or even up to 12 hours if the deficit reaches 1,300 MW. Additionally, the sugar industry is facing significant disruptions, with approximately 40,000 hectares of sugarcane left unharvested due to heavy rains caused by El Niño, which has saturated the soil and prevented machinery from entering fields.