The president of the College of Electrical Engineers of Pichincha suggests that two-hour rationing should begin now, so that it does not become longer later.
Marco Acuña, president of the College of Electrical Engineers of Pichincha, analyzes the critical energy situation that Ecuador is going through and the measures proposed by the Government of Daniel Noboa.
Given the current conditions, with insufficient generation, he warns that it is unlikely that there will be no power rationing in the coming weeks. He said this in the following interview he gave to the local newspaper El Universo .
- Are blackouts inevitable?
As things stand, we see it as unlikely that we will not have blackouts. We have pointed out that the necessary precautions should already be taken to schedule the blackouts in some way and in a proper manner.
Perhaps it is better to start by doing two-hour blackouts, in such a way as to have better control and flow; in addition, it will help the population and businesses and industries to prepare and manage, in some way, these blackouts, so that losses are less.
- Do you suggest that power outages be scheduled now so that rationing does not become more extensive later on?
Exactly. We must be constantly evaluating the electrical system. To date, we have not had any new generation incorporated in the country, and this has been the case for several years. We hope that in the next few days we will have at least 100 MW from the barge, which, apparently, due to its location, will not even be able to deliver all that capacity.
The other purchases that are in process are 241 MW, to be installed in different parts of the country, in Quevedo, Guayas, Santa Elena; but the Government itself has said that this will be done in November. These purchases of generators should have been made as soon as this government began, if not during the previous one.
- What is your assessment of the Government's handling of the energy crisis?
The way the Government was managing things was not planned or ordered. And we see it a bit like this: taking measures on the fly. We, as the Provincial College of Pichincha and as the National College, in the previous government and in this government had proposed 14 measures that should have been implemented two years ago.
- What are some of those measures?
We introduced him (Noboa) when he was a candidate. There is the purchase of emergency thermal energy, that is, the purchase of firm energy. Making an agreement with the large private energy generators; that is, the companies and industries that have medium and large generators, so that they become self-sufficient in energy, which is a bit what (the Government) is now proposing.
Carry out proper maintenance of all thermal and hydroelectric parks in the country; there are thermal parks that are not working due to lack of maintenance. Carry out energy saving campaigns at all levels, from homes, companies, industries, commerce.
Perhaps the limitation could have been the lack of resources?
That has been the label that President (Lenín) Moreno and (Guillermo) Lasso have given him. And now this Government (of Daniel Noboa) first said that there are no resources.
But, on the other hand, in November and October of last year we started and paid US$ 260 million in cash to Colombia to import energy during that first dry period. Then, until today, energy is being imported and we do not know the total amount that is being paid.
Now it is being said that US$ 114 million is being contracted for the rental of 100 MW barges for 18 months; US$ 300 million is being contracted for the purchase of thermal energy and it is being said that 788 MW will be contracted at a value of more than US$ 1,000 million. In other words, now the money is appearing, perhaps in view of the next (electoral) campaign.
To what extent can the announced measures for energy self-sufficiency in companies contribute to savings and encourage households to do so?
In the document prepared by the College we had pointed out that this should be done because it could mean a contribution. It is not that more generation is being installed, but rather it is being removed from demand through self-generation. On the other hand, we have said that a campaign for energy savings and efficiency must be undertaken.
But they won't be enough.
That's right. The gap is big. At first, the energy deficit was estimated at 1,080 MW, but now it is sometimes estimated to be a little more. But if we continue to contribute (solutions), everything will add up to having, perhaps, less time of power cuts. The entire population must be very aware of this.
The Mazar reservoir is about to reach its most critical level. What will happen if this happens and the water level drops even further?
Last April, in an attempt to stop the blackouts, the Mazar dam was forced to operate below minimum levels, and there came a point where there was no more room for it and the blackouts occurred. Now it must be protected, because if not, lowering it below minimum levels would jeopardize the useful life of the dam and the power plant. It could damage the infrastructure.
- The official version of the massive blackout on Saturday, September 7, is that it was due to human error. Is that possible?
The Ecuadorian electrical system is walking a tightrope. I have a lot of respect for the technicians at Cenace and Celec, because they are managing an electrical system that is walking a tightrope.
In 2018, the system only managed 8 contingencies and had a backup called N-1, meaning that if it failed on one side, it could be handled on the other side, and nothing would happen, and it would not be felt. But now we are managing more than 44 contingencies in the electrical system and we no longer manage this N-1 backup system.
How do you see the government assuming for a few months the bills of up to 180 kilowatts of consumption? To what extent can it motivate savings or does it rather seem like an advance announcement of an electoral campaign?
I think it's more like that (because of the campaign). This happened after the blackout, it's like trying to cover something up with a measure of this kind. According to the Government, US$34 million are being subtracted from income, we don't know who it will affect, whether it's the distributors, the fiscal budget... Where will that money come from?
We also don't know how it will affect, whether it is the energy consumption itself or the values that are added to the bill, which even have to do with the municipalities such as security fees, garbage collection, etc. This is something that must be clarified, so that users do not have surprises later.
