by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Aug. 24, 2023
The Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics & E-Governance concluded its final stakeholder consultation for the Belize National Energy Policy 2023-2040 on Tuesday at the Belize Biltmore Plaza in Belize City.
Before it heads to the Cabinet at the end of the month, key players from the energy sector including the European Union, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Belize Electricity Limited, and others shared their insights.
This significant step marks Belize’s commitment to Energy Security and Sustainability. Upon the Cabinet’s approval, the proposed policy will proceed post-consultation.
“An energy policy implies an energy reform, and both play pivotal roles in shaping a sustainable future for Belize. With the ever-increasing demand for energy and the mounting concerns about climate change, it is imperative that we establish a comprehensive policy, and reform existing legislation to address challenges effectively,” stated Jose Urbina, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Public Utilities & Energy.
The existing energy policy framework, approved in 2012, was intended only to carry through to 2017. Thereafter, an actual policy should have been enacted. The update is finally being addressed, with the focus on what the current and future energy needs are for Belize.
Ryan Cobb, energy director, emphasized the government’s recognition of the policy’s importance, saying, “This government has acknowledged that this energy policy is crucial to the development of the country, and to guiding not just the policies, but the different actions and projects that took place, by updating our sustainable development goals and our commitments to climate change.”
Additionally, the program included a presentation by Jeffrey Locke, an energy expert, who covered an overview of the policy as well as a question-and-answer segment where stakeholders were free to pose and discuss questions.
The European Union in Belize supported and funded this collaborative event, along with assistance from the technical team from GFA Consulting Group GmbH consortium, one of the leading European consulting firms active in the development cooperation sector, based in Germany, who contributed to the project’s success.