Ecuador Faces Daytime Blackouts Amid Record Drought, Electricity Crisis Deepens

Ecuador is grappling with its worst drought in over six decades, forcing the government to move planned nighttime rolling blackouts into daytime hours, Bloomberg reports.

The drastic measure, announced late Sunday, reflects the growing severity of the electricity crisis gripping the nation.

The blackouts, which began early Monday morning, are set to continue until September 29. They are a consequence of record low water levels in reservoirs, severely impacting the country’s reliance on hydroelectric power generation.

“Faced with the radicalization of climate changes in the most recent days, it is necessary to redistribute the suspension of electrical services that was planned for the next days,” said Ecuador’s energy ministry in a statement.

The drought has also triggered water rationing in Quito, the capital, further highlighting the severity of the situation. Last week, the government declared a “red alert” for much of the country as the drought threatens not only energy production but also agricultural output and fuels rampant forest fires.

The government has announced plans to mitigate the crisis by adding emergency power generation through shipboard units and undertaking cloud seeding efforts to boost rainfall.

The electricity crisis adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging political landscape. The country is set to hold a presidential election in February, and the ongoing power shortages are likely to become a major campaign issue.