“Today we made a firm decision and we had to do it again, which is to declare an emergency in the country’s energy sector,” Noboa said at an event in Guayaquil. “I demanded the minister’s resignation.”

Energy Minister Andrea Arrobo will serve as a temporary replacement for current Transport Minister Roberto Luque, who will also retain his other position, Noboa’s office said in a later statement.

Drought caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon has affected power production at hydroelectric dams, which are Ecuador’s main source of electricity, leading to planned power outages and energy imports from neighboring Colombia.

Noboa also previously said that sabotage had occurred at some power plants and that he had launched an investigation.

“The problems of Ecuador’s energy sector in recent years are not due to a lack of technical proposals, but rather to a lack of firmness in the fight against corruption and incapacity in the sector,” the statement added.

In January, Ecuador’s Assembly approved Noboa’s proposed legislation to improve energy competitiveness and avoid electricity rationing.

Colombia also relies heavily on hydroelectric power generation, and its capital Bogota maintains constant water rationing. (Reuters).