Ecuador to implement nationwide blackout overnight on Wednesday

Ministry of Energy and Mines, Quito, April 16, 2024. REUTERS/Karen Toro

QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuador will implement a nationwide blackout for maintenance in the country's electricity system overnight on Wednesday, from 10 p.m. local time to Thursday at 6 a.m., the government said in a statement on Sunday.

The measure is aimed at "preventative maintenance" in National Transmission System sites and in the power distribution network, the statement said. The transmission work will cost around $1.19 million, while maintenance on distribution will cost around $1 million.