Why did the new energy plan not work in Ecuador?

The belief that promoted this new Plan was that the market, through its own forces, principles and dynamism, would encourage new companies to invest in electricity generation. However, the results were not satisfactory in Ecuador due to bothinsufficient interest of new companies and lack of fresh capital ( CONELEC, 2007a ).

What type of energy does Ecuador use?

Ecuador’s renewable energy is comprised of hydro power (5,419 MW), biomass (1550 MW), wind (71 MW), photovoltaic (29 MW), and biogas (11 MW). Hydroelectric power plants are in three regions: coastal (2 provinces), Andes (9 provinces), and Amazon (4 provinces).

How much energy did Ecuador lose in 2024?

According to Ecuador’s Central Bank, power outages caused economic losses of about $2 billion in 2024. In 2024, Ecuador’s generation capacity was 9,255 megawatts (MW), of which 5,686 MW (61 percent) was renewable energy sources, and 3,569 MW (39 percent) was non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels derived from oil and natural gas).

What is Ecuador's nuclear energy plan?

Ecuador’s nuclear energy plan contemplates a 300 MW small modular reactor in the medium term and a 1 GW reactor in the long term. In May 2025, Ecuador became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The next step is to enact the legal framework to oversee and regulate nuclear energy.

Will Ecuador import natural gas?

Ecuador plans to accelerate the procedures to import natural gas to supply the largest thermoelectric plant in Ecuador, Termogas Machala, which works at 50 percent capacity.

How much electricity does Ecuador need?

Ecuador had a peak demand of 5,110 MW in May 2025, and according to CENACE, electricity demand grows by 360 MW every year. Ecuador’s energy shortage could result in a recurrence of power outages, particularly in the dry season of September through December. Ecuador has added minimal generation in recent years.