Due to extremely low water levels at hydroelectric plants, Ecuador issued an order on Wednesday for all employees, both public and private, to remain at home for two days in order to prevent a massive power outage.
“The suspension of the working day” was imposed by President Daniel Noboa on Thursday and Friday. He attributed the situation to “environmental circumstances” as well as “unheard-of acts of corruption and negligence.”
There have been up to six-hour blackouts around the nation.
Noboa said that the storage levels at the neighboring Paute dam were four percent, while the reservoir supporting the nation’s Mazar hydroelectric plant in the southern Azuay province was completely depleted.
On Tuesday, Noboa, who had taken over for Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo, declared an emergency in the electricity industry.
In addition, he issued an order, without providing specifics, to look into allegations of corruption in the production of electricity.
Due to a prolonged dry period, neighboring Colombia has stopped exporting electricity to Ecuador, coinciding with the country’s own hydroelectric plants reaching near-critical levels.
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