Marcelo Arias

Head of Engineering

Marcelo joined Barka Capital in 2015 as Head of Engineering, bringing over eight years of experience in Ecuador’s electrical sector.

Before joining Barka, Marcelo held senior leadership roles at the Electricity Regulation and Control Agency (ARCONEL), where he was in charge of overseeing the execution of the national master plan for generation and transmission. Under his leadership, the plan structured a 50% increase in the country’s generation and transmission capacity over a 10-year period, leading to the development of the largest state-owned hydroelectric projects in the country. Marcelo also led the strategic enhancement of the 120 km transmission line between Cuenca and Macas, significantly strengthening the electrical infrastructure in the southeastern region of Ecuador.

Earlier in his career, Marcelo worked at the National Energy Control Center (CENACE), focusing on the planning and analysis of the national interconnected system’s operations. He was instrumental in optimizing the energy flow control between Ecuador and Colombia, a critical component of the regional energy exchange.

Marcelo holds both a PhD and an MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the Technological University of Havana in Cuba. His expertise is recognized internationally, with his technical articles published in leading journals, including those of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the United States.