Ecuador's Noboa declares energy emergency, requests minister resign

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa declared an energy emergency due to drought and has asked Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo to resign, he said at a government event in Guayaquil on Tuesday.

"Today we took a strong decision, once again we had to, which is to declare an emergency in the country's energy sector," Noboa said. "I have asked the minister to resign." A drought brought on by the El Nino climate phenomenon has affected production at hydro-electric dams, which are Ecuador's main source of electricity, leading to planned power cuts and energy imports from neighboring Colombia.

The ministry of energy and mines on Monday announced energy cuts across the country due to the drought. Noboa also said sabotage had taken place in certain power plants, adding that "we have launched an investigation" into the areas where damage had been reported, without providing further details.

In December Noboa's government sent a proposed, urgent law to the national assembly to modernize the country's electricity sector, which was approved in January.

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