Ecuador's government ordered two days off on Wednesday to ration electricity and upgrade the country's installations. President Daniel Noboa, citing the drought but also mysterious "sabotage," declared a "state of emergency" on Tuesday.
The water reservoirs of Mazar (the largest) and Paute, both located in the southern Andes, have reserve levels of 0% and 4% respectively. Furthermore, the flow of the largest hydroelectric plant in the country, Coca Codo Sinclair (north of the Amazon), which supplies 30% of national demand and generates 1,500 MW of energy, suffers from a deficit of 40% per year compared to the historical average. An investigation was opened and presented to the Attorney General against "alleged saboteurs," again according to the presidency. In addition to the cancellation of 50% of household electricity bills for April (a measure announced on Tuesday), the presidency declared Thursday and Friday non-working days. They will allow electricity rationing.