Articles
Business intelligence and analysis on Ecuador
Progen Investigation Expands to 30 People as Ecuador Reopens Power-Contract Questions
Ecuador’s Fiscalía is seeking to add nine people to the Progen case, bringing the total number of investigated individuals to 30. The investigation concerns contracts for thermal generators and a reported potential loss above USD 100 million.
Mazar Reservoir Nears Full Level as August Inflows Fall Below Average
Mazar remains close to its maximum level, but inflows fell sharply in early August. The Paute complex has 1,757 MW of capacity, while a hydroelectric consultant says the pattern may indicate an early dry season ahead of October–March low-water conditions.
Electrified Vehicles Reach One-Quarter of Ecuador’s First-Half Sales
One in four vehicles sold in Ecuador during the first half of 2026 was hybrid or electric, while electric-vehicle sales tripled year over year. AutoShow Guayaquil is showcasing models priced from USD 15,990 to USD 61,890 across conventional hybrid, plug-in, range-extended, and fully electric technologies.
Fuel Stabilization Mechanism Points to a Second Consecutive Price Decline
President Daniel Noboa says Ecuador will lower diesel and Extra and Ecopais gasoline prices slightly on August 12. The adjustment follows five consecutive months of increases and a July change to the pricing formula.
Cenace Flags Five Transmission Risks Before Ecuador’s 2026 Dry Season
Cenace’s June operating plan identifies five relevant risks in the National Interconnected System ahead of the October 2026-March 2027 dry season. The warnings center on transmission overloads, coincident plant outages, and reserve loss near Guayaquil.
Ecuador Secures USD 3.5M To Prepare Strategic Electricity Projects
The grant includes detailed engineering studies for the San Gregorio–Palestina transmission line in El Oro and Guayas, with the program designed to strengthen Ecuador’s National Transmission System.
Electrified Vehicles Reach 25.1% of Ecuador's Auto Market in H1
Tax treatment, wider model availability, and BYD's rising sales point to an increasingly structural shift in Ecuador's automotive market.
Diesel Benchmark Reaches USD 4.19 Before Ecuador's August Reset
International diesel and gasoline benchmarks rebounded ahead of Ecuador's August 12 fuel-price adjustment. The movement narrows room for the government to repeat July's USD 0.05-per-gallon reduction.
Celec Regains Path To Terminate Failed Esmeraldas III Contract
Celec can again move toward unilateral termination of the ATM contract for Esmeraldas III after emergency arbitration measures were left without effect. The failed 91 MW project had a USD 89.9 million contract and fines near USD 23 million.
ITT Output Falls 20% As Petroecuador Maintains Five-Year Closure Path
Bloque 43-ITT production averaged 42,105 barrels per day in January-June 2026, down 20% from the same period in 2023 and 4.5% from 2025. The Yasuní field remains the fourth-largest producer in Ecuador as Petroecuador pursues a five-year closure process contested by Yasunidos.
Colombia Supply Risk Complicates Ecuador’s 450 MW Import Buffer For 2026 Dry Season
Ecuador’s interconnection with Colombia can supply up to 450 MW, about 10% of Ecuador’s 4,200-4,500 MW average demand. But Colombian capacity delays and 6.67% demand growth are creating uncertainty ahead of Ecuador’s October dry season.
Ecuador Oil-Export Income Reaches USD 1.561 Billion By July 23
Oil-export revenue has nearly matched 2025’s full-year result as WTI and Ecuador’s realized barrel price rise above budget assumptions.