Costa Rica is facing its worst drought in five decades, prompting the government to announce electricity rationing starting next Monday. The severe lack of rainfall has crippled hydroelectric plants, which supply approximately 70 percent of the nation’s electricity.
The state-run electricity company, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), has attributed the drought conditions partly to the El Niño weather phenomenon. Roberto Quiros, ICE’s Director of Electricity, described water levels at main reservoirs as “critical,” noting that the current El Niño is the most severe on record.
Delays in contracted deliveries from private power plants have exacerbated the crisis. The last time Costa Rica implemented electricity rationing was in 2007.
The scheduled power cuts are expected to last up to three hours daily but will not affect hospitals, industries, or other high-voltage consumers. ICE is urging residential users to reduce their electricity consumption as much as possible.
President Rodrigo Chaves expressed concern over the situation, stating he prays daily for rain. Efforts to purchase energy from neighboring countries have been challenging due to regional power shortages affecting Central America.
Similar energy crises have emerged in Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador, where widespread power cuts have been blamed on heatwaves and drought conditions.
ICE officials also noted that unpredictable wind patterns have reduced output from wind farms, further straining the energy supply. Despite forecasts for imminent rainfall, the anticipated relief has yet to materialize. Costa Rica’s rainy season typically begins at the end of April.
An increase in demand has complicated ICE’s ability to meet consumption needs. Official data from January showed a nine percent rise in electricity usage compared to the same month last year.
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Suffering worst drought in decades, Costa Rica orders power rationing
cgtn.com
