(Opinion) While it’s easy to blame El Niño or climate change, Ecuador’s ongoing energy woes truly stem from poor governance and lack of foresight.
Since October 27, blackouts have plagued the country, revealing gaps in government planning.
Analysts had warned about an upcoming drought, yet the government took no preventive measures.
The financial toll is staggering. Industries lose an estimated $18 million for each blackout hour.
A recent survey shows that out of 1,000 industries, only 45 can self-generate power. This situation could have been avoided with better planning and investment.
Blackouts are scheduled to last until December 15. Now, the government faces two poor options.
They can either import costly electricity from Colombia and Peru or rely on expensive private thermoelectric plants. Both choices fail as long-term solutions.
Furthermore, the lack of strategic planning disrupts small businesses. They struggle to operate in such an unstable environment.
Analysts say fixing this issue is a massive task that can’t be done overnight. Thus, we see the impact of years of government inaction.
As for solutions, the government proposes ineffective quick fixes. They suggest renting thermoelectric plants or buying energy from private companies.
These measures are costly and don’t solve the root problem.
Building New Plants – Unmasking the Real Culprits
Adding insult to injury, a 2020 master plan aimed to build ten new hydroelectric plants. Only two have been completed.
Analysts note that although $6 billion was invested annually in the past decade, maintenance was neglected, especially after 2017 austerity measures.
In conclusion, Ecuador’s energy crisis is not a natural disaster but a result of human failure. Poor planning and lack of investment have left the economy hanging by a thread.
This crisis stands as a stark lesson in the risks of administrative negligence.