The inauguration of the Rural Electrification Project was held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Indian Church Village, Orange Walk District, marking a major milestone in providing electricity to rural communities across northern and southern Belize. The event was held under the partnership of the European Union (EU), Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), and with the support of the Government of Belize (GOB), through the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics (MPUEL).
The project brings safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity to the villages of Indian Church, San Carlos, San Benito Poite, Jalacte, and San Vicente, empowering communities, supporting agriculture, and enhancing the overall quality of life.
The initiative began in 2021, when the EU, BEL, and Lait Up Belize collaborated to secure funding to electrify underserved communities. In 2022, a formal agreement between the EU and BEL, with support from the Government of Belize, officially launched the project.
Originally envisioned as a micro-grid initiative, community engagement and technical assessments highlighted the critical importance of connecting Indian Church and San Carlos directly to the national grid, ensuring long-term reliability and maximum impact on local agriculture and livelihoods. The project includes a 10-mile interconnection to the national grid, fully funded by BEL, alongside electrical infrastructure jointly funded by the EU and BEL, including utility poles, distribution lines, transformers, street lights, and home wiring.
The inauguration ceremony also marks the start of household wiring, a crucial step to ensure all residents can connect and fully benefit from electricity for homes, farms, and local businesses.
Reflecting on the importance of this milestone, Hon. Michel Chebat said:
“This project is a clear demonstration that rural communities matter and that development must reach every corner of our nation. It is a powerful reflection of our guiding mantra: no village is left behind.”
Highlighting BEL’s central role in making this project a reality, Karique Marin, General Manager for Distribution and Energy Solutions, shared,
“We are not just turning on power; we are powering progress together, for these communities and for the country of Belize, Electricity has the power to transform how families live, how farmers operate, how small businesses grow, and how young people plan for the future.”
Aniceto Rodriguez-Ruiz, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, added,
“This initiative is set to illuminate not just homes but lives and possibilities. “ Thanks to the partnership established between the Government of Belize, BEL, and the EU we are now connecting 150 households to the electrical grid, thus empowering people with the resources they need to thrive”.
The EU, BEL, and the Government of Belize reaffirm their commitment to sustainable development and continued collaboration to expand energy access across the country, ensuring that no community is left behind. This milestone reflects, not only a successful partnership, but also a bright future for rural Belize.
The post Powering Progress Together: EU and BEL, with GOB Support, Achieve Milestone in Rural Electrification Project appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
The inauguration of the Rural Electrification Project was held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, in Indian Church Village, Orange Walk District, marking a major milestone in providing electricity to rural communities across northern and southern Belize. The event was held under the partnership of the European Union (EU), Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), and with the
The post Powering Progress Together: EU and BEL, with GOB Support, Achieve Milestone in Rural Electrification Project appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
