Solar Energy project handed over to U.B.
On August sixteenth, the media was invited to tour the multi-million dollar solar energy project at the Belmopan campus of the University of Belize. That facility, which was funded under the grant aid for environment and climate change program by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was formally inaugurated and handed over this past Friday. It took almost a year and ten million Belize dollars to build, but for the environment, this clean energy generator will be worth every hour and every penny that was invested in it. At the inaugural ceremony, UB President, Dr. Carey Frazer, explained that it will also facilitate important research for the development of other green technologies. Frazer’s address was followed by a surprise announcement from Japanese Ambassador, Hiroshi Yamaguchi.
Dr. Carey Frazer, President, University of Belize
Carey Frazer
“It is a symbol of Japan’s support for Belize in encouraging the development of new energy technologies. It is also proof of Japan’s historic and ongoing commitment to the development of technologies that could secure Japan’s economic future in a world where technology and innovation has increasingly defined the competitive status of countries in global context. The location of the facility here at the university provides an opportunity for the development of scientific research capability among people at the university; particularly faculty in collaboration with other public agencies including the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, Belize Electricity Limited and international agencies such as the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center. In addition, the location of the location of the facility here at UB offers the opportunity for the university to think carefully and systematically about how to develop a curriculum in alternative energy and other green technologies. We can then train students to explore the ways in which technological changes can be used to reorient policy and practices in resource allocation and resource use across the entire society.”
Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Ambassador of Japan to Belize
“I would also like to make the important announcement that the government of Japan has made announcements to the generation capacity of the solar generation unit from the original three hundred, fifty kilowatt system to an upgrade four hundred, fifty kilowatt system, which will perform more efficiently and more powerfully in solar generation. It is expected that this project will greatly contribute to the improvement of the environment for all Belizeans.”
