Mazar Reservoir Nears Full Level as August Inflows Fall Below Average

Ecuador's Mazar reservoir remains near its maximum level, but inflows declined during the first 11 days of August. The reservoir feeds the Paute hydroelectric complex, whose three plants have a combined capacity of 1,757 megawatts, equal to 38% of national demand.

The trend matters because the usual dry season in the relevant Amazon-facing basins begins in October and runs through March. Primicias reports that the August decline is occurring roughly two months before that period begins.

The flow comparison

According to data from the Corporation for Electricity of Ecuador, the average flow entering Mazar from August 1 through August 11, 2026, was 62.65 cubic meters per second.

That was a little more than half of the average for the same period in 2025, when the flow was 112.88 cubic meters per second. It was still more than double the average for the same period in 2024, a year when Ecuador experienced a major electricity crisis and outages lasting up to 14 hours.

Hydroelectric consultant Ricardo Buitrón said Mazar's flow was well below the historical average for August, which the report gives as 96 cubic meters per second. His assessment was that August may be a dry month and that the pattern could be a signal that the dry season is arriving early.

The reservoir still has a strong starting position

At 6:00 p.m. on August 12, Mazar's water level was 2,151.38 meters above sea level, close to its maximum of 2,153 meters. The reservoir held close to 380 million cubic meters, of which about 300 million cubic meters was described as useful operating volume.

Buitrón said that volume could support the three Paute plants for roughly three months at 360 MW, or six months at 180 MW. Those are operating scenarios from the consultant, not a forecast of actual dispatch.

What to watch

The key variables are inflows, reservoir level, and continued electricity imports from Colombia. The maximum purchase capacity from Colombia is 450 MW per day, according to the report.

For investors and industrial users, the relevant distinction is between a reservoir that is currently near full and the flow trend that determines how quickly that reserve is replenished or consumed. The source does not forecast blackouts or imminent rationing. It points instead to an early warning signal that becomes more important as October approaches.

Source: Primicias