Ecuador imposing overnight blackouts as drought saps hydroelectric power capacity

Ecuador's government was to begin imposing nationwide nighttime blackouts Monday evening in a bid to conserve energy. The move has been forced by widespread drought conditions depriving Ecuador of vital hydroelectricity capacity.

The office of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced the blackouts in a message posted on social media last week, saying there would be daily eight-hour power cuts from Monday until Thursday, lasting from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The statement said the measure was due to "the worst drought in the last 61 years and in order to responsibly manage the control of our electrical system."