Power cuts in Ecuador will run nationwide for 12 hours per day, up from a planned eight, the government said on Monday, citing the country's urgent energy crisis caused by the worst drought in the Andean country's recent history.

QUITO — Ecuador will begin scheduled power cuts a day early, the government said Saturday, aimed at rationing electricity as the hydroelectric power-dependent country faces its worst drought in

The blackout in the provinces will be from 8:00 a.m. local time until 5:00 p.m., the Ecuadorian presidency said in a statement released Saturday night on X. It is in addition to the government's plans announced on Tuesday for eight-hour nightly power cuts nationwide from Monday to Thursday.