Ecuador's Got a New Energy Minister — Here's Why Cuenca Should Pay Attention
Cuenca Expat Staff
Just one day after we reported on two massive energy projects headed for the Yanuncay River corridor, Ecuador has a new person running the whole show.
President Daniel Noboa signed Decree 376 on May 7, accepting the resignation of Inés Manzano and appointing Juan Carlos Blum Baquero as Minister of Environment and Energy.
Who Is He?
Blum is a mechanical engineer from ESPOL (Polytechnic School of the Littoral) with a master's degree in Energy Management and Environmental Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. He's spent his career in sustainability consulting across Latin America, working on environmental and social impact studies for electrical, hydrocarbon, mining, and renewable energy projects.
He's also collaborated with the World Bank, IDB, and CAF on infrastructure and energy projects meeting international sustainability standards — which is notable given that CAF just pre-approved $60 million for the Yanuncay hydroelectric project we covered yesterday.
Why The Change?
Blum was actually just appointed as general manager of CNEL (Ecuador's national electricity corporation) on April 15, 2026 — barely three weeks ago — by the very minister he's now replacing. That rapid promotion came during a period of blackouts on Ecuador's coast and ongoing concerns about the national power grid.
Why This Matters for Cuenca
If you lived through last year's rolling blackouts, you know Ecuador's energy crisis is personal. The $90M Yanuncay hydroelectric plant, the $180M El Pimo wind farm, and the broader push toward energy independence in the Austro region all fall under this ministry's umbrella. Whether these projects stay on track — or hit bureaucratic delays — now depends in part on Blum's leadership.
Source: El Mercurio
