Ecuador - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Nuclear policy and outlook
Ecuador has strong presidential support for introducing nuclear power, driven by the need to diversify electricity supply following the severe shortages of 2024. In May 2025 President Daniel Noboa announced an intended nuclear energy law in his inauguration address. Government statements have outlined both a 300 MWe small modular reactor in the medium term and a longer-term large reactor programme.
Table Ec.1 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)
| 60 year operation (MWe) | 80 year operation (MWe) | Currently under construction capacity (MWe) | Planned capacity (MWe) | Proposed capacity (MWe) | Potential capacity (MWe) | Government capacity target (MWe) | Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe) | Total capacity (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | 1300 | 1300 | 0 | 1300 |
| *Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target. | ||||||||
Readiness Assessment
The long-term direction of policy – pursuing nuclear power, most likely via SMR technology, as part of a diversified generation mix – appears durable at the presidential level. The likelihood of commissioning a first reactor by the currently cited 2031 date, however, is very low.
| Country Category | Candidate |
|---|---|
| Policy Framework Readiness | Moderate Strong, repeated presidential commitment and a stated (if shifting) roadmap; draft Atomic Energy Law exists but remains unenacted and unsubmitted to the Assembly. |
| Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness | Low-Moderate No independent nuclear regulator yet; coordinating body created but not operational; minimal domestic specialist capacity. |
| Programme & Project Development Readiness | Low No confirmed site, technology, vendor or financing; no tender launched; latest official electricity plan omits a nuclear project. |
| Target Achievability | Low Revised ~2031 SMR target implies delivery within approximately five years, without legislation, regulator, site or vendor yet in place. |