Belize Eyes Faster Shift to Electric Transportation

Belize is looking to accelerate its transition to cleaner transportation through a regional electric mobility initiative supported by Taiwan and the countries of the Central American Integration System, SICA. The project will explore the feasibility of introducing additional electric buses and expanding charging infrastructure in Belize, while drawing on the experiences of regional leaders in sustainable transportation. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy and Logistics, Dr. Leroy Almendarez, recently participated in discussions on the initiative and says Belize is eager to learn from countries that have already made significant progress in the electric mobility sector. Here is more from him.

 

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, CEO, Ministry of Energy, Public Utilities and Logistics

“The whole Central America through SICA is looking at the possibility of increased penetration of e-mobility vehicles because there’s a focus on the positive impacts or the positive aspects of the environment. And so it’s trying to see how you could make a transition from fossil fuels, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, the buses that use diesel and gas, et cetera and see what it would look like to have a transition, what period of time you could move from usage of gas and diesel vehicles to using electric vehicles. And so they were doing a diagnostics across the Central America but in this case it was a focus on Belize. The two countries at this point in time that have increased penetration are Costa Rica and Panama. Costa Rica is really the leader. Now, in our case now, for us to make the transition and it was good to see some of the bus owners or vehicle owners in the room, you have to look at data that tells you that it’s worthwhile to make this transition. And so looking at that, because the cost of initial cost of an electric vehicle could be pretty expensive, but the long-term usage, because gas at this point in time, as the price is very volatile and we have no real control over that. But when it comes to electric mobility or electric vehicles, the charging or to charge an electric vehicle and to use it over the same space, right?  If you were running from Belize City to Cayo, you’ll find out that it’s much cheaper.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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