QCOSTARICA — Costa Rica has implemented rationing as a result of a drought, making it the latest Latin American country to do so.
The decision was made due to low water levels in the dams that supply the country’s hydro-electric plants, which are a major source of electricity. Officials attribute the drought to the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The director of Costa Rica’s State power and light utility, the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), described this El Niño as the most challenging in the country’s history.
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Rationing will begin on Monday, May 13, and will continue for the week and maybe even weeks.
Costa Rica relies heavily on renewable energy sources, with about 99% of its electricity coming from such sources, primarily hydro-electric plants.
A climate expert at the ICE stated that this drought is the most severe the country has experienced in 50 years.
“We have not seen a drought like this in 50 years,” said Berny Fallas, a climate expert at the ICE.
The World Meteorological Organization reported on Wednesday that Latin America and the Caribbean had their warmest year on record in 2023, due to a combination of El Niño and climate change leading to severe weather events.
Central America experienced intense drought, leading Panama to restrict traffic in the canal.
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Costa Rica will implement electricity rationing for the first time since 2007, when El Niño caused water level issues.
Ecuador has also had to ration electricity due to a lack of water for hydro-generation, while Bogota, Colombia is rationing municipal water.
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