Why can drought disrupt Colombia’s electricity supply?

Drought can disrupt Colombia’s electricity supply because the country relies heavily on hydroelectric power, which generates roughly three-fourths of its electricity. When severe droughts occur, water levels in the rivers harnessed for power production drop, leading to interruptions in service.1

These drought conditions in parts of South America are often associated with El Niño events, which disrupt normal weather patterns and can lead to significant rainfall deficits. To mitigate the impact of these water shortages on the national power grid, Colombia has constructed supplemental thermoelectric plants in many areas.231