Drought-stricken Costa Rica imposes restrictions on electricity consumption
On May 9th, Costa Rica – suffering from the worst drought in five decades – will limit access to electricity, with the country’s authorities blaming a severe lack of rainfall that has hobbled hydroelectric plants, Reuters reports
The Central American country typically gets about 70 percent of its electricity from power plants. State electricity company ICE blamed the drought partly on a weather phenomenon known as El Nino.
“ICE’s Electricity Director Roberto Quiros described water levels at main reservoirs as ‘critical’, adding the current El Nino is the most severe on record. He also pointed to delays in contracted deliveries from private power plants,” the publication reads.
The last time restrictions on electricity consumption were introduced in the country was in 2007. The power cuts – to begin from May 13th – will last up to three hours a day, but won’t affect hospitals, industry and other high-voltage customers.
