The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News.
By Dr. Leroy Almendarez: 15 YEARS OF DATA TELLS THE STORY
The challenges Belize is experiencing in the electricity sector today did not emerge overnight. They are the result of a fundamental shift that has been taking place over many years: our demand for electricity has grown significantly, while the expansion of domestic generation has not kept pace.
The numbers help to tell the story.
Figure 1. Belize electricity requirements and implied domestic generation, 2011–2022 (GWh). The widening gap in several years was met principally through imports from Mexico.
In 2011, Belize’s electricity demand was approximately 535 GWh. By 2025, demand had climbed to approximately 810 GWh, an increase of roughly 275 GWh, or more than 50% over the period.
That increase is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, growing electricity demand is closely connected to economic and social development. As Belize grows, we are building more homes, hotels, schools and businesses. Tourism continues to expand. Construction has increased. Shrimp farms and other productive industries require power. Transportation is gradually becoming more electrified, and households are using more appliances, air-conditioning and technology.
A growing economy naturally requires more electricity.
The real challenge is that while demand has grown steadily, domestic electricity generation has not expanded at the same pace. Belize has therefore increasingly had to rely on imported electricity, principally from Mexico, to fill the gap between what we produce locally and what consumers require.
In recent years, domestic generation has at times supplied only around 40–50% of our electricity requirements, leaving a substantial portion to be met through imports.
That exposes Belize to risks that are largely outside of our control. When electricity prices in the regional market rise, Belize is affected. When supply conditions in Mexico become tight, Belize is affected. International fuel prices, weather conditions, transmission constraints and geopolitical events can ultimately influence the cost and availability of the electricity we import.
This is why the electricity issue must be understood as more than simply a discussion about monthly electricity bills. It is fundamentally about energy security, affordability and Belize’s long-term economic development. We cannot reverse fifteen years of growing demand overnight. Neither can we build major generation facilities overnight. But we can accelerate the transition toward a stronger and more diversified electricity system.
That is why the way forward must include increasing domestic generation, accelerating renewable energy development, introducing battery energy storage, modernizing and strengthening the national grid, expanding microgrids and standalone systems for underserved communities, pursuing additional regional interconnections, and ensuring that new generation is procured competitively at the lowest sustainable cost.
Increasing domestic generation is particularly important. Every additional unit of reliable and competitively priced electricity that Belize can produce locally reduces our exposure to external supply disruptions and volatile imported electricity costs.
Battery storage will also become increasingly important as more solar energy enters the system. Solar can produce relatively inexpensive electricity during daylight hours, while batteries can store some of that energy and release it when demand is higher or when solar generation declines. Together, these technologies can help Belize build a more flexible and resilient electricity system.
But affordability must remain at the centre of the strategy.
The objective cannot simply be to produce more electricity. We must produce and procure electricity at the lowest sustainable cost possible, because ultimately the cost of generating and purchasing electricity affects the price paid by households and businesses.
At the same time, Belize must continue working toward universal access. Economic development cannot be truly inclusive if some communities remain without reliable electricity while national demand continues to grow.
A growing economy needs a growing, reliable and affordable electricity system.
Belize is now playing catch-up after years in which electricity demand expanded faster than domestic generation capacity. The responsible response is not to look for a single short-term solution, but to build the electricity system that Belize will need for the next 15 to 25 years.
That means more Belizean generation., more renewable energy. more storage, a stronger and smarter grid, greater regional energy security, competitive procurement and continued protection of consumers which is the current focus.
The government’s goal remains clear: universal, reliable and affordable access to electricity for every Belizean household and business.
Keeping the lights on today is essential. Building an electricity system that keeps them on affordably tomorrow is the bigger mission but it’s not an overnight endeavour.
The post Belize’s Electricity challenge did not happen overnight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News. By Dr. Leroy Almendarez: 15 YEARS OF DATA TELLS THE STORY The challenges Belize is experiencing in the electricity sector today did not emerge overnight. They are the result of a fundamental shift that has been taking
The post Belize’s Electricity challenge did not happen overnight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
