Quito, Ecuador - April 16, 2024

[Note: partially no sound]

Chastened by a drought that has several hydroelectric dams near critical levels, Colombia announced on Monday (15 April) that it has stopped exporting energy to Ecuador, where there will be "rationing".

"Since Easter week we have limited the export of energy to Ecuador. At the moment we are not exporting energy", Colombia's Minister of Mines and Energy, Andres Camacho, told the media.

For its part, Ecuador's Energy and Mines Ministry said in a statement that there will be "temporary rationing" due to "unprecedented situations at national and regional level".

In the midst of a prolonged drought associated with the El Nino phenomenon, Colombia, which relies heavily on hydroelectric generation, has adopted "all measures" to avoid suspending energy services.

"We have all thermal (plants) at maximum capacity," Camacho said, adding that the country also relies on "renewable" sources and "hydroelectric plants" to meet the demand of its 50 million people.
The country's reservoirs are currently at 29.8 per cent of their capacity, according to system operator XM. This is close to the "critical" level of 27%.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa replaced the energy minister on Tuesday hours after provincial electricity companies began rationing power for up to three hours a day because of an extended drought and after complaints from citizens affected by unannounced service interruptions.

"We have initiated an investigation for sabotage," Noboa said in Guayaquil as he called for the resignation of Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo and declared an emergency in the national energy sector. Arrobo was replaced by Public Works Secretary Roberto Luque.

The decision came hours after the energy ministry ordered temporary cuts on Monday to manage demand nationwide and asked citizens to reduce consumption "in this critical week", due to the energy production deficit resulting from a severe drought and high temperatures that have reduced the flows that supply Ecuador's hydroelectric plants.

SHOTLIST:
1. various energy-related issues on the streets of Quito;
2. SOUNDBITE: Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador;
"Once again we have to declare an emergency in the country's energy system, we have asked for the resignation of the Minister (of Energy) and we have also initiated an investigation for sabotage, b-because in certain areas, in certain electrical plants, there has been sabotage" (Apr 16, 2024);
3. various of Guatape reservoir in Colombia (images by Juan Sebastian Molina Ruiz);
4. various of drought in dams in Colombia.