According to data from the National Electricity Operator (Cenace), energy production in this South American nation depends mainly on hydroelectric plants, which account for 79% of generation.

On August 27, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Antonio Goncalves, informed that the Government seeks to contract 788 megawatts (MW) of additional power to the National Interconnected System.

According to the official, the easiest way to achieve this, in terms of time, is through the contracting of two or three additional barges, because they are quickly connected to the grid.

However, the vessel of the Turkish company Karpowership, which arrived in Ecuador almost a month ago, is still not operating.

Its production represents only three percent of the national demand and the cost is close to 115 million dollars, according to local media reports.

Meanwhile, this Monday the Government launched an international bidding process for the construction of an electrical interconnection line with Peru.

The Minister of Energy and Mines explained that the objective of the project is that, when one of the countries has a deficit, the other can make up for it. “It will also benefit the inhabitants of the border areas”, Goncalves said.

The energy crisis that persists today in Ecuador caused a total blackout in the country in June.

This situation worsened in mid-April, with outages of up to 13 hours in some places, and although blackouts were officially suspended as of May 1, there have been interruptions for various reasons.

mh/arm/oda/nt