B.E.L. still without Mexican power

Officials of Belize Electricity Limited are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, as a generating plant failure in Mexico continues to deprive Belize of badly needed power. Since Tuesday the nation has been forced to rely on the Mollejon hydro plant in Cayo and eight diesel units spread around the country to meet its electrical needs. Some blackouts were experienced early in the week during periods of peak demand between six and nine at night. B.E.L. reports that reduced activity on Saturday and Sunday will allow the utility company to make it through the weekend, but the crunch will come Monday as the new work week begins. Portable generators are still being held in the United States ready for shipment, should the situation warrant. In the course of a normal year B.E.L. purchases around forty percent of its power from Mexico, with another forty coming from Mollejon and the remainder provided by its own diesel generators. With Mollejon’s output reduced by low dry season water levels in the Macal River, the heavy reliance on diesel is adding significantly to B.E.L.’s cost of operation.