Photo: John Mencias, Chief Executive Officer
“…electrifying everything ..customers in out-of-service areas would no longer need to make large upfront investments..”
by Marco Lopez
BELIZE CITY, Fri. May 26, 2023
A significant shift is underway at Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), said Sean Fuller, Chief Financial Officer of the company, in a presentation last Friday. BEL is focusing on increasing sales to fund its ambitious expansion goals, which include the extension of infrastructure in order to acquire new customers.
The company’s five-year plan, initiated earlier this year and presented last week at a stakeholder engagement event, outlines the company’s intentions to tap into the potentially lucrative market of electric transportation and other innovative technological offerings. John Mencias, BEL’s Chief Executive Officer, summed up the strategy by saying, “Anything that can be electrified, we want to supply it.”
BEL has prioritized sustainability for years, recently deciding to intensify efforts to produce more clean energy domestically. E.A. Marshalleck, chairman of BEL’s board of directors, explained that the aim is not only to meet the company’s sustainability goals, but also to secure reliable power generation, in light of the country’s dependence on Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
Marshalleck expressed concerns about potential energy shortages and increased prices in the area south of Mexico, where BEL purchases energy from CFE. “Belize must seek to build in-country capacity to meet energy needs at current or lower prices,” he said.
BEL and Blair Athol Power Company Ltd., a local independent power producer, have signed two power purchase agreements for the supply of 15 MW of utility-scale solar energy. Awaiting ratification from the PUC, BEL is also seeking proposals for the procurement of additional generation sources, including solar and gas-based power plants. Enhancements to grid infrastructure to support rural expansion and modernization are part of the plan.
Marshalleck shared, “These major transition investments include a second transmission line interconnecting Ambergris Caye with mainland Belize to enlarge power transfer capacity. This will also support the submarine interconnection between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, scheduled for completion by the end of this year.”
Additional upgrades will include a second line and switching station between Ladyville and Belize City and a new line running from La Democracia to Dangriga Town. The company also recommends 40 megawatts of battery storage as part of the plans.
BEL aims to integrate solar and wind (renewables), gas plants, and batteries onto its grid to increase in-country capacity. Mencias explained that to achieve this, the company needs to expand its market, which it plans to partially achieve through a focus on electric transportation.
He suggested that declining acquisition costs make electric vehicles a financially feasible choice for Belizean drivers. “We are directly targeting that market, and we could potentially increase our sales by about 20%, if not more,” he said.
BEL’s campaign to “electrify everything” is aimed at boosting the company’s sales to support its expansion plans while ensuring sustainable and reliable energy across the country.
Sean Fuller explained that customers in out-of-service areas would no longer need to make large upfront investments for BEL to extend infrastructure to these areas. He emphasized that the company’s strategy is not only to increase its customer base but also to enhance quality of life.
Customers outside the grid will also be served. Fuller explained, “BEL can supply off-grid power. We’ll install a solar battery system with backup generation, if necessary.” He clarified that customers outside a designated enhanced distribution services coverage area would be required to secure their investment in the form of a bond.