Análisis de las interrelaciones del nexo agua – energía – alimentos en la matriz energética del Ecuador.

Abstract

The general objective of this research was to analyze the interrelationships of the water-energy-food nexus in the energy matrix of Ecuador. In the first objective, the energy matrix of Ecuador is characterized and it is found that it has a growing energy intensity due mainly to the transportation sector. The artificially low price of fuel is identified as one of the main causes of smuggling, low efficiency, the exponential increase in groundwater authorizations, the low development of non-hydraulic renewable energies, the overpopulation of heavy transport, congestion vehicular, among others. In the second objective, areas of priority interrelation between the WEF nexus and the food chain are identified, where exports are large consumers of these resources; biofuels, which contribute less than two percent to gasoline consumption, but compete for land and water with food; and food transportation, which constitutes approximately 40% of the movement of goods in the country. The third objective proposes public policies aimed at joint planning of the water, energy and food sectors, with long-term plans, the use of economic instruments to obtain efficient use of resources, the systematic collection of disaggregated information on the use of water and energy. The conclusion is that the low price of fuels decisively influences the characteristics of Ecuador's energy matrix and its interrelation with water and food resources.