Government and BEL Discuss Plans to Address Looming Power Shortage

Government and Belize Electricity Limited officials met this morning to discuss the anticipated emergency in electricity generation services declared this week. Minister of Public Utilities Michel Chebat says the meeting focused on the measures required to secure additional generating capacity and protect the national grid from projected power shortages beginning next year. Chebat also spoke on the installation of microgrids in strategic areas of the country as part of efforts to strengthen the reliability and resilience of Belize’s electricity system.

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities: “On Wednesday cabinet approved an emergency declaration to address the energy crisis. And so the meeting today really was to discuss with BEL to see the steps they’re going to now be taking to fulfill the shortfalls that we’re going to be seeing. Basically it means that we do not have sufficient generation to meet the demands of the country. The emergency declaration that was made last year it’s going to be covered by the 20 megawatts that is going to be coming online next week. But BEL is also forecasting that next year in 2027, we are going to have an additional shortfall. And so the emergency declaration that was adopted by government on Wednesday is to really to look at that. And so the idea now is BEL is now open to go and procure additional generation and I believe what they intend to do is to get that from local IPPs. About a month or so ago, I had called in, I had a meeting where I called all the IPPs to address the issue we’re facing and to see if any of them are able to increase what they’re generating to help us to address this issue. But that declaration now puts BEL in a position that they can now go out and procure additional generation. Since you mentioned microgrids we have been installing many microgrids in the southern part of the country. We did two in Orange Walk, at around the middle of this month we’re hoping to actually inaugurate the one at Halakte. So that’s something promising.”

BEL requested the emergency declaration after warning the Public Utilities Commission that Belize could face a material shortfall in dependable generating capacity within the next twelve months. The rented diesel generators currently supporting the national grid are expected to be removed in February 2027. Without replacement capacity, BEL projects possible electricity shortages during eight months of that year, with the largest deficit reaching approximately twenty percent of peak demand in March.  The outlook for 2028 is more serious, with BEL projecting insufficient dependable capacity throughout the year and a possible shortfall of twenty-three percent by September. Reliability challenges at the BAPCOL power plant and the time required to complete planned solar and battery-storage projects have added to the concern.  The emergency declaration will allow authorities to accelerate the procurement of temporary generating capacity to bridge the supply gap until longer-term energy projects begin coming online.