Ecuador’s energy crisis deepens as drought halts hydropower production

Ecuador’s reliance on hydroelectric power has collided with a severe drought, causing daily blackouts and significant economic and social disruptions.

Julie Turkewitz and José María León Cabrera report for The New York Times.

In short:

Ecuador faces up to 14-hour daily blackouts due to drought draining rivers and reservoirs, crippling the hydroelectric-dependent power grid.
The outages have disrupted businesses, schools and basic services, with losses estimated at $12 million per hour of power cuts.
Experts warn that climate change will make hydropower less reliable, urging diversification into alternative energy sources like wind and solar.

Key quote:

The principal problem was the country’s "excessive focus on hydroelectric energy," which "left the system extremely vulnerable to climate change phenomena.”

— Lenin Moreno, former president of Ecuador

Why this matters:

Ecuador’s crisis underscores the risks of over-reliance on hydropower as climate change intensifies droughts. Vulnerable nations must prepare for water shortages with diversified energy sources to protect their economies and communities.

Learn more: Hydropower's challenges and opportunities amid climate change

www.nytimes.com

Photo credit: Photo by ダモリ on Unsplash

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Chinese companies have pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy manufacturing investments overseas. The projects could help lower emissions, but they are having significant social, environmental and human rights impacts.

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