The National Government announced on March 27 that it has restored normal electricity service in the province of Santa Elena, meeting 100% of energy demand following technical work at the local transmission substation.
This action was achieved through a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, together with the Ecuadorian Electric Corporation (CELEC EP) and the National Electricity Corporation (CNEL EP). The government said immediate measures were taken to restore and ensure continuous power supply, minimizing disruptions for residents.
Emergency solutions were put in place while ongoing work continues at the transmission substation. These include activating the Santa Elena III Thermal Power Plant, which adds 33 megawatts to the system; operating a new transformer at Santa Elena II for an additional 7 megawatts; and adding thermal generation equipment at Chanduy (3 MW), Pechiche (12 MW), and La Libertad (6 MW).
At the same time, installation is underway for a new autotransformer with a capacity of 224 megavoltamperes. This infrastructure will double electricity transmission capacity in Santa Elena and improve long-term reliability. Technical teams are currently assembling this equipment. After safety and operational tests are completed, it is expected to be operational by late April.
The government said these actions demonstrate its ongoing efforts to strengthen national energy infrastructure through cooperation among key agencies such as CELEC EP, CNEL EP, and CENACE.
