Peru to end energy rationing

Peru’s Mines and Energy Minister Carlos Herrera said the country will stop rationing energy in its industrial north on Wednesday following a deal with neighbouring Ecuador.

“Since yesterday (Monday) we have been importing electricity from Ecuador and we have taken a second measure to improve transmission quality and increase capacity that should be operational tomorrow,” he said on local television.

The Ministry began rationing power on 2 August due to a lack of transmission capacity and hydroelectric power between Trujillo and Cajamarca.

Although disruption to the mines was expected, the CEO of Buenaventura, Peru’s largest precious metals miner, said production last week was unaffected.

The country generates 51% of its power from hydroelectric plants and is currently building news transmission systems in the north.