Ecuador’s President Vows End to Energy Blackouts by 2025

President Daniel Noboa announced that Ecuador will avoid blackouts in 2025 and 2026, addressing a critical issue that has disrupted the nation in recent years.

Speaking on TC Televisión, Noboa highlighted measures taken to stabilize electricity generation. He signaled progress after prolonged energy shortages caused by severe droughts.

Ecuador’s energy crisis, which began in 2023, exposed the country’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric power, responsible for over 70% of its electricity. Droughts drastically reduced water levels in reservoirs, leading to rolling blackouts of up to 14 hours daily by late 2024.

These outages disrupted businesses and households, with economic losses reaching $12 million per hour. Public dissatisfaction grew as the government sought urgent solutions.

Noboa detailed several steps his administration has implemented to address the crisis. Recent rainfall replenished reservoirs, restoring hydroelectric capacity and enabling the recovery of 500 megawatts (MW) of thermoelectric power.

Ecuador’s Energy Sector

A new 200 MW hydroelectric plant also became operational, while three floating power plants leased from Turkey now provide backup generation. Noboa stressed cost-efficiency, explaining that payments for these plants depend on their actual use.

The president also noted a significant shift: Ecuador has resumed exporting electricity to Colombia. This comes after years of relying on imports during shortages. This reflects improved energy management and increased generation capacity.

Despite progress, challenges persist. The Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, supplying nearly a third of Ecuador’s electricity, faces erosion risks that could threaten long-term stability.

To mitigate this, the government is diversifying energy sources through investments in solar and wind projects and expanding natural gas imports. Noboa’s efforts aim to restore confidence in Ecuador’s energy sector while reducing vulnerability to climate variability.

For investors and policymakers, these developments highlight both opportunities in renewable energy expansion and the importance of addressing infrastructure risks.