Ecuador ordered this Wednesday to suspend public and private work for two days, given the energy crisis caused by a historic deficit in the reservoirs that supply hydroelectric plants, which led to blackouts of up to six hours.
President Daniel Noboa decreed the “suspension of the working day” on Thursday and Friday, the presidency said in a statement and warned that the decision not only responds “to environmental circumstances” but to “unheard-of acts of corruption and negligence.”
The president declared an emergency in the electricity sector on Tuesday and asked for the resignation of the then Minister of Energy, Andrea Arrobo. Given the untimely rationing last Sunday, Noboa on Tuesday entrusted the Energy portfolio to the head of Transportation and Public Works, Roberto Luque, and ordered an investigation into suspicions of corruption that would affect electricity production.
The presidency specified that the strategic sectors of the Executive “will be operational and focused 100% on the task of resolving the energy crisis” during the mandatory holiday. The power plants will carry out maintenance on their plants on Thursday and Friday, which will imply rationing that will be announced in due course, he added.
Colombia stopped exporting energy to Ecuador as a measure to deal with the serious drought associated with the El Niño phenomenon that has that country’s reservoirs below 30% of their capacity. Faced with the energy crisis, Noboa indicated on Tuesday that in April only 50% of households’ electricity bills will be charged. Fuente: AFP
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2024-04-22 05:27:50
