QUITO, Nov. 16, 2009 (Xinhua News Agency) -- Ecuador was gradually overcoming the electricity crisis which had affected the country since Nov. 5, an official announced Monday.

Ecuador's Electricity and Renewable Energy minister Esteban Albornoz said that electricity rationing would now be half-time.

"The crisis is being surpassed," Albornoz said, adding that electrical cuts would be less this week, while the industrial plants would be suspended during non-working hours.

The effects of the crisis were being reduced since Peru had agreed last week to sell Ecuador 1,200 megawatts of electricity per hour, and Colombia had compromised to increase the supply of power interconnection, Albornoz explained.

Since Nov. 5, Ecuador has been affected by an electricity crisis due to a severe drought, which caused water shortages at the country's main hydro-electric power plant at Paute.