Energy Crisis Isn’t Over, BEL Says It Could Last Into 2027
Belize’s electricity supply is expected to remain tight into mid-2027, with Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) identifying the next dry season as another period of pressure on power generation.
Sean Fuller, BEL General Manager for Finance and Business Support, says the situation is expected to remain manageable, but the most difficult period is likely to come between March and May 2027.
“The supply situation is tight, but manageable from now to mid-2027 the hardest stretch will be the next dry season, between March and May,” Fuller said.
The challenges extend beyond reduced hydroelectric production. BEL is also facing restrictions on electricity imports from Mexico during peak evening hours, along with higher prices for the power it imports.
BEL says the cost of electricity imports from Mexico increased by 38%, adding to the cost of securing enough power to meet Belize’s energy demands.
BEL has also had to rely on diesel generation, which can cost as much as ninety cents per kilowatt-hour, more than double the average customer rate.
To reduce its dependence on more expensive sources of electricity, BEL is moving ahead with plans to expand solar generation and battery storage.
The company expects its first fourteen-megawatt solar facility to begin operating in December, with a longer-term target of sixty-five megawatts of solar generation and forty megawatts of battery storage by late 2027.