Sunday blackouts caused by B.E.L. maintenance

For many Belizeans, the widespread electrical blackouts that occurred over the weekend made for an irritating Mother’s Day. But according to B.E.L., the load shedding became necessary in order to prepare a key substation for a major expansion. In order to accommodate a new twenty-megawatt gas turbine generator at mile eight, the substation there had to be temporarily shut down for modifications. B.E.L. organised a small army of technicians to do that work, as well as other maintenance, while the complex was de-energised. Among those tasks was the wash down of insulators to remove accumulated dust and the eradication of a swarm of Africanised bees that had taken up residence in the high voltage environment. The twenty-megawatt gas turbine facility is scheduled to come on line by August first and will be used by B.E.L. during peak periods to avoid paying the very high rates charged by Mexico for electricity during those periods.