Belize Seeks IDB Support to Tackle Sargassum Crisis
Prime Minister John Briceño has discussed Belize’s energy security and efforts to address the growing sargassum problem with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn during the 2026 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
The bilateral meeting focused on rising electricity costs, expanding energy generation, strengthening infrastructure and improving regional energy integration.
Discussions also covered support for Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), the submarine cable upgrade to San Pedro and opportunities for increased IDB technical and financial assistance to Belize’s energy sector.
Belize described sargassum as a national and regional crisis, citing its effects on tourism destinations such as San Pedro and Hopkins, as well as its health, environmental and economic consequences.
The government also called for greater recognition of sargassum as a disaster risk, pointing to public investments in offshore collection, renewable energy solutions, carbon-credit opportunities and the development of useful by-products.
The government is exploring ways to use sargassum by-products to generate electricity and support other waste-to-energy projects, in consultation within the private sector.
Goldfajn acknowledged the regional scale of the problem, and the IDB will engage its technical teams to explore possible support mechanisms.