El Salvador will not face power rationing or grid disruptions despite a severe drop in hydroelectric generation triggered by El Niño weather patterns. Edwin Núñez, president of the country’s power transmission company (ETESAL), reassured the public during a local television interview that the national grid possesses ample capacity to meet current demand without blackouts.
According to figures from the Transaction Unit (UT), hydroelectric supply plunged 34% during the first seven months of the year, dropping to just 7.7% of total demand in July. However, the shortfall has been successfully absorbed by alternative energy sources, notably Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which contributed 33.04% in July, and thermal bunker power, which supplied 27.04% following a 147.1% surge in thermal injections.
Nuñez emphasized that the nation’s balanced energy mix is key to preventing supply shortages during extreme events, such as recent heatwaves in eastern El Salvador. “El Salvador has a very diversified energy matrix, and that is what prevents the country from running the risk of power rationing or supply issues,” he stated, reinforcing confidence in grid reliability.
To ensure long-term stability, ETESAL is pushing forward with a $1 billion expansion plan (2026–2035) that includes 12 new substations and regional network upgrades. The state entity will break ground on September 28 for a new transmission line connecting San Miguel and Morazán, a project designed to bolster infrastructure and power supply in historically underserved eastern departments.