QUITO – Ecuador will implement a nationwide blackout for maintenance in the country’s electricity system overnight on Wednesday, from 10 p.m. local time to Thursday at 6 a.m., the government said in a statement on Sunday.

The measure is aimed at “preventative maintenance” in National Transmission System sites and in the power distribution network, the statement said. The transmission work will cost around $1.19 million, while maintenance on distribution will cost around $1 million. The power cut comes as Ecuador contends with a serious drought that is affecting hydroelectric dams, which supply most of the country’s power.

“This schedule was chosen with a sense of responsibility, with the aim of not affecting the daily life of Ecuadoreans, and the country’s productivity,” said the statement, issued by President Daniel Noboa’s office. Noboa’s administration has previously ordered power cuts in times of energy shortages. In June, officials blamed a nationwide outage on faulty transmission lines and insufficient maintenance. (Reuters)…[+]