The president of the Quito Chamber of Commerce, Mónica Heller, says that the “lack of vision of the authorities” on the electrical issue “seriously” affects the commercial sector at an important time for small and medium-sized enterprises.
“These measures discourage investment and have a negative impact on job creation,” Heller complained in statements to the digital portal Primicias.
For his part, the leader of the National Federation of Tourism Chambers, Holbach Muñetón, stated that his sector suffers from taxes, extortionists, crime, and now, no energy. “How can we work like this?” he asked himself.
For the president of the Hotel Federation of Ecuador, Mauricio Letort, even if the big establishments have generators, they will suffer the impact, and he urged the government to allow the sale of fuel for generators in cans to supply the plants.
Also, the head of the Ecuadorian Business Committee, Gabriela Uquillas, warned that there would be security effects without cameras or alarms.
This Thursday, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Fernando Santos, announced a daily power cut of three hours on the coast and four hours in the mountains and Amazon, due to the severe drought that prevents the generation of kilowatts needed for the national territory.
Ecuadorians have considered blackouts a failure for more than a decade, when, due to a lack of generation, there is also electricity rationing.
During the mandate of Rafael Correa (2007–2017), the problem was solved by building several hydroelectric plants, but the lack of investment and maintenance led to the current situation, according to experts.
The former Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Miguel Calahorrano, pointed out in an interview with Radio Pichincha that the possibility of low water levels had been known for more than a year, and the government of Guillermo Lasso had not done anything about it. “What it hides is the lack of responsibility in the country, from the administration of President Lenín Moreno and then Lasso. “Both have not installed even one megawatt of new energy,” he said.
