Colombia has renewed energy supply agreements with Ecuador, suspended since early December.
Ecuador’s Minister for Strategic Sectors, Galo Borja, told Dow Jones Newswires Friday that Colombia is to supply 500 megawatt hours to Ecuador until Monday. After Monday, Borja said the supply from Colombia should increase to between 750 Mwh and 1000 Mwh, for one month.
Colombia temporarily suspended hydroelectricity sales to Ecuador in early December in order to maintain sufficient water levels in its reservoirs over the dry season.
Ecuador has been short of electricity since November when chronic drought conditions in the Paute region, home of the country’s biggest hydroelectric generator, reduced power supplies.
The minister said he hoped new accords with Colombia’s mining and energy minister would be in place in a month’s time. If so, electricity supplies from Colombia could increase, he said.
Under normal conditions Colombia supplies Ecuador with 4,500 Mwh.
(Dow Jones)