Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency in energy and appointed an interim energy minister. This is happening at a time when the South American country is struggling with a drought that has severely affected the production of electricity from hydropower facilities, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"Today, once again, we had to take a difficult decision, which is to declare a state of emergency in the country's energy sector," Noboa said at a government event in the western city of Guayaquil. "I asked for the minister's resignation."
Temporarily, the place of former Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo will be taken by Transport Minister Roberto Luque, who will combine the two positions, Noboa's office later announced.
A drought caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon has seriously disrupted the work of hydroelectric plants in Ecuador, which represent the country's largest source of energy. As a result, planned blackouts had to be undertaken and electricity imported from neighboring Colombia.
On Monday, the Ministry of Energy announced that due to the drought, a current regime is being introduced throughout Ecuador.
Noboa reported that some power plants were sabotaged. "We have started an investigation" in the areas from where similar damage was reported, the president said, but did not reveal more details.
In January, the National Assembly passed a law introduced by Noboa to modernize Ecuador's electricity sector.
Neighboring Colombia is also heavily dependent on wind energy production, and its capital, Bogotá, has implemented a water regime.