+506 2216 0222
opsaa@iica.int
LAC: 50% hydro energy at risk from El Niño drought
20/04/2026
Some 50% of Latin America's energy comes from hydroelectric sources, making the region highly exposed to El Niño. Paraguay relies on hydropower for 99.8% of its electricity, Costa Rica for 73.1%, and Colombia for 70.8%. Droughts force reliance on costlier thermal plants, raising energy prices with direct impacts on agricultural production costs.
(Castellanos,2026)
Salazar Castellanos, D. (2026, abril 20). Fenómeno de El Niño: mapa de cultivos y países de América Latina que tendrían mayores riesgos en 2026. Bloomberg Línea. https://www.bloomberglinea.com/economia/fenomeno-de-el-nino-mapa-de-cultivos-y-paises-de-america-latina-que-tendrian-mayores-riesgos-en-2026/