Ecuador's Power Generation Gap Reaches 900–1,000 MW as Mazar Reservoir Drops 6 Meters in 25 Days
Power Generation Deficit
Ecuador requires between 900 and 1,000 MW of additional generating capacity to meet current demand. Electricity demand hit a historic peak of 5,374 MW on April 14, 2026.
Hydroelectric generation — normally ~85% of total supply — drops to 60-70% during dry season, exposing the deficit. No significant investment in thermal backup or renewables has materialized to cover the gap.
The outgoing Energy Minister Inés Manzano departed this week. Her successor has not been named.
Mazar Reservoir Status
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Current level | 2,132.89 msnm |
| April 1 level | 2,139 msnm |
| Decline (25 days) | -6.11 meters |
| Critical threshold | 2,115 msnm |
| Buffer remaining | ~18 meters |
| Acceleration date | April 19, 2026 |
Cenace (National Electricity Operator) assessment: "riesgo de que se produzcan eventos en cadena... que podría llevar a un colapso parcial o total" — risk of cascading events that could lead to partial or total system collapse.
Coca Codo Sinclair is currently contributing 52% of daily hydroelectric energy at a flow rate of 206 cubic meters per second (up 67 m³/s from two days prior).
Transmission Infrastructure
The grid itself is degraded: "no se han realizado inversiones para repotenciar y ampliar las redes" — no investment has been made to upgrade and expand transmission and distribution networks. Even when generation capacity exists, delivery bottlenecks constrain supply to demand centers.
Oil Production
Petroecuador output fell to 349,167 barrels per day in 2025 — a 7.9% year-over-year decline and the lowest production since 2003.
This compounds the energy problem: oil revenue funds the national budget, including energy infrastructure investment. Lower production creates a fiscal constraint on the very spending needed to resolve the power deficit.
The Sacha field — Ecuador's largest onshore block — faces a mandated public concession process per the March 13, 2026 US trade agreement.
Mining Cadastre
The mining cadastre (catastro minero) has been inactive since 2018. Major projects including Loma Larga (Azuay) remain suspended. While the Cangrejos gold mine contract represents a breakthrough (see separate coverage), the broader sector remains frozen.
What to Watch
- Mazar reaching 2,120 msnm. At current decline rates (~0.24m/day), the reservoir reaches the warning zone by mid-May. If dry season intensifies, rationing becomes probable.
- New Energy Minister appointment. The policy orientation of the replacement signals whether the government prioritizes thermal investment, demand-side management, or continued reliance on hydroelectric.
- Sacha field bidding timeline. The US trade agreement creates a hard commitment. Delay risks diplomatic friction; execution risks political backlash.
- Dry season onset. Ecuador's dry season (typically June–November in the Sierra) will determine whether the current 18-meter buffer holds or collapses.
Sources: Primicias, Cenace
Source
Primicias — “Invertir en plantas eléctricas y subir la producción petrolera, los retos urgentes del nuevo Ministro de Energía”
View originalSupport the EcuadorBrief archive.
Research support helps fund review, corrections, and hosting. New publishing is paused.
