Energy
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147 articlesEcuador Bolsters Thermoelectric Capacity Amid Dry Season and El Niño Concerns
Ecuador's National Electricity Operator Cenace reports an average thermoelectric generation of 875 MW between September 1 and September 23, 2026, contributing approximately 19% of national demand. This increase is partly due to two new generation barges, which began operation on September 21, 2026, adding 200 MW.
Ecuador's Oil Production Recovers, Government Seeks Private Investment for Sacha Field
Ecuador's average oil production reached 460,562 barrels per day from January to August 2026, marking an 8.1% recovery from the previous year's pipeline disruptions. The government is actively pursuing private investment for the Sacha oil field, with interest from UAE companies, following a previous unfinalized process in 2025.
Ecuador's Oil Production Targets Face Lower Projections from Central Bank Amidst Shifting Price Outlook
Ecuador's Ministry of Energy aims for 500,000 barrels per day by December 2026, but the Central Bank of Ecuador projects a lower average of 463,013 bpd for 2027. Oil revenues increased significantly in 2026, while future price forecasts anticipate a market correction despite current high prices.
Ecuador Implements Energy Measures Amid El Niño Threat and Long-Term Sustainability Goals
Ecuador's Ministry of Environment and Energy is coordinating with industries to manage energy supply during the El Niño phenomenon. High-voltage consumers are asked to voluntarily disconnect one day a week, while the government also plans to contract additional electricity generation barcazas.
Ecuador–Peru power link: two dated license announcements
Public 2023 and 2026 license announcements for the 500-kV power link, plus the IDB's implementation status.
ITT Equipment Failure Cut Output to About 15,000 Barrels a Day
An ITT processing-system failure interrupted production beginning September 6. The latest cited operating data precede today, so full restoration remains unverified.
Paute Inflows Enter the Dry Season Below Historical Benchmarks
Ecuador entered the September 2026-March 2027 dry season with below-historical inflows across the Paute system. Mazar averaged 56 m³/s in August versus a historical 90 m³/s, while Paute basin flow averaged 94.8 m³/s against a historical 136.4 m³/s.
Petroecuador's August Output Missed Target Despite an 8% Year-to-Date Gain
Petroecuador averaged 365,704 barrels per day in August, below its 370,000-barrel projection. January-August output was 8% above the same 2025 period, but the comparison is distorted by the July 2025 collapse and remains below earlier benchmarks.
Villonaco III Advances With 112.1 MW Capacity and USD 200M-Plus Private Investment
Villonaco III has received 30 of 57 wind-turbine blades for a planned 112.1 MW project between Loja and Catamayo. The concession carries more than USD 200 million in private investment, a 25-year term, and a third-quarter 2027 commercial-operation target.
Ecuador’s USD 42.7M Barge Renewal Suspension Is an Execution Signal
Sercop suspended a six-month renewal process for one Karpowership barge in Guayaquil, leaving a 90-110 MW procurement question open ahead of the dry season.
Ecuador Enters a September Dry Season With a 450 MW November Deficit Risk
The Vice Ministry of Electricity expects the hydroelectric dry season to begin in September and last into March 2027. Cenace projects a possible 450 MW November deficit, while government procurement delays have reduced the generation expected by December.
Shanghai Business Leaders Signal Interest in Ecuador Renewable-Energy Projects
President Daniel Noboa used a business event in Shanghai to promote Ecuadorian goods and services and discuss potential investment in renewable energy. The meeting points to a commercial pipeline, not a completed transaction.
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.