The government announced on March 19 that it is implementing technical measures to progressively restore the electricity supply in the province of Santa Elena. These actions include adding new generation capacity and carrying out a structural intervention, with full restoration of the system expected by the end of April. Scheduled power outages in the province are set to be suspended starting March 21 as these solutions come into effect.
Officials said that this week, an additional 15 megawatts (MW) will be integrated into the system—3 MW in Chanduy and 12 MW in Pechiche. Another 7 MW will come from a transformer relocated from Ibarra, bringing the short-term operational total to 22 MW.
In addition, another 6 MW is expected to arrive in the country on March 22. The equipment will be moved from customs on March 23 and installed in La Libertad canton on March 24. After installation and an estimated five days for commissioning, officials expect a total of 28 MW available by the end of March.
These steps are intended to reduce interruptions for residents across several sectors of Santa Elena, improving service continuity while work continues on a permanent solution.
A longer-term fix involves moving a large transformer with a capacity of 224 MVA from Pascuales substation to Santa Elena. Between March 15 and March 17, technical inspections were carried out on thirty-seven bridges along the route by teams from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Ministry of Energy, CELEC, and private companies using specialized equipment and drones. Specific points needing technical interventions were identified to ensure safe transport.
Once all necessary authorizations are granted, officials estimate that moving the transformer will take about two days. With continuous work after arrival, it is expected to become operational within approximately thirty days—restoring full capacity for Santa Elena’s electrical system by late April.
