Belize’s Energy Future Hinges on Renewables

For Belizean households, regional comparisons offer little comfort when monthly electricity bills keep climbing. Government says Belize remains one of the Caribbean’s more affordable places for electricity, but BEL is struggling to maintain those rates as its operating costs outpace revenue. Energy Minister Michel Chebat believes locally generated renewable energy offers the clearest path forward. Several solar projects are expected to come online soon, and while their immediate impact may be limited, Chebat says bigger investments could strengthen BEL’s finances and eventually bring meaningful relief to consumers.

 

Michel Chebat, Minister of Energy

“I think we’ve been doing excellent. The fact that we are the second lowest within the Caribbean speaks volume as to the work we’ve been doing. Um, you know that recently there was an emergency declaration. We are banking on new solar generation in the country. We are banking on 14 megawatts by December, and I’m holding BEL and the company that they are contracting with to make sure that happens. And by July, we should have a complement of 30 megawatts, um, all together. And so we’re looking forward to that. We’re looking forward to the cost savings that will come from that over the years, and to be able to pass that on to the consumers.”

 

Shane Williams

“Will that savings, do you expect that savings to be enough to counter all the losses that the company has had to endure because it’s almost a social system more than an capitalist company?”

 

Michel Chebat

“This initial saving will not be enough, will not be enough. But we feel that once the Saudi comes online, once the other eighty megawatts that we’re working with the IFC comes online, we will be able to see the company at a major turnaround in their finances.”

 

At a recent meeting of regional energy ministers, CEO Leroy Almendarez called for stronger cooperation to tackle shared energy challenges.

 

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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