3 weeks ago
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Belizeans endured a countrywide blackout last night, and according to Belize Electricity Limited, more load shedding can be expected as the country grapples with limited energy sources. The blackout occurred shortly before seven-thirty, after Belize temporarily lost power supplied by Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad, or CFE. At the time, local generating sources were producing about one hundred and three megawatts, while demand had climbed to one hundred and twenty-two megawatts. That left a shortfall of about nineteen megawatts and caused the national electricity system to collapse. BEL says its grid protection system automatically cut power to several areas in an effort to stabilize the system. Electricity was gradually restored after CFE resumed supplying power at around ten fifty-four last night. The company says local generation remains limited. Some renewable sources are unavailable because of seasonal conditions, while other generating units are either undergoing maintenance or operating below capacity. During an interview with Love News in June, BEL Executive Chairman Lynn Young warned that the company was preparing for possible challenges involving CFE, drought conditions and higher demand during the hotter months.
Lynn Young, Executive Chairman, Belize Electricity Limited: “All indications that it tends to bring drought with it. So how serious it will be, we are not sure but what Hydro Belize and BEL has been working together to try to conserve as much water. So at this point in time, we have the amount of water that we normally need for this point of the year. But if the rains don’t happen the way they normally happen in the latter half of the year, then we could face some issues. We also are concerned about issues from CFE. So what BEL did is we applied to the PUC to put in emergency generation. So as we speak, we’ve already prepared a spot at Westlake, that’s mile eight, and we have 20, it’s 24 megawatts of emergency generation coming in. It’s a mobile unit that will be set up there to cover us in the event that CFE has issues or that if we have a drought so that we avoid having ruling black votes. It’s one of these things in the industry that you think hard about because it’s going to cost us extra money and already we are bleeding right. It’s going to cost us about $4 million a month to have that extra generation in place. But two things, one is that when CFE prices go high we can turn it on and avoid that cost from CFE and B, if CFE says it can’t generate then we don’t have to have blackouts. We have it. So it’s one of those things that you’re paying for. It’s kind of like insurance. You’re paying for it, but you hope you don’t need it. But you realize that there’s a very high chance that you might need it because there’s CFE and there’s drought that could come and there is also climate change where the months are getting hotter and we have these months where people’s bills go through the roof. But you have to supply the power.”
The threat of further interruptions remains tonight. BEL says CFE may again reduce the amount of electricity supplied to Belize because of high demand in Mexico. A tentative load-shedding schedule has been issued for portions of Orange Walk, Corozal, Belize City, San Ignacio and communities along the Independence Road between six and nine tonight. From nine until midnight, possible interruptions may affect parts of Corozal, Ladyville, Belmopan, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. BEL says it is monitoring the national grid and will provide updates through its official communication channels.
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