On February 9, Electro Generadora del Austro (Elecaustro) announced the initiation of a contract process to acquire a new 100 megawatt (MW) floating barge. Stakeholders have until February 12 to raise any questions regarding the tender process, after which the contract award is anticipated to be finalized by March 5, according to information published by the National Public Procurement Service (Sercop). This process is part of the strategic planning to ensure that the national interconnected system remains adequately powered while managing contract expirations.

This tender arises as one of the existing agreements with the Turkish company Karpowership is nearing its end, specifically concerning the barge named Murat Bey, which has been supplying 100 MW to Ecuador's national grid since December 2024. As this contract is set to expire in March, the procurement of a new barge is crucial to maintain the nation's electricity supply without interruption. The estimated total budget for this procurement process, excluding VAT, is approximately $155 million.

In the broader context, the reliance on floating power plants like those provided by Karpowership reflects Ecuador's strategy to diversify its energy sources and to secure emergency power generation capabilities. The continuation of such contracts until at least 2028 indicates a long-term commitment to these floating solutions, highlighting the necessity for the government to ensure energy security as it transitions to broader renewable energy initiatives.