Providing Electricity to Remote Communities in Southern Belize

The Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and Transportation is working closely with the European Union to install micro-grids in five villages in southern Belize that are without access to electricity. According to data from the Public Utilities Commission, at least ten thousand Belizeans are still not connected to the national power grid.  We spoke with Ryan Cobb, the Energy Director at the ministry in Belize City today where he told us how they are planning to address this issue.

Ryan Cobb

Ryan Cobb, Energy Director, Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy

“Under one of our projects we are trying to achieve universal access, so we are trying to get electricity. That is easier said than done. Bu t through a partnership with the European Union under their European Development Fund, we are looking to do pilot projects for what they call micro-grids. So, we will be developing isolated systems that power either a village or a combination of villages to provide them with power. We are partnering with Belize Electricity Limited to conduct these projects. We will be doing generation from primarily solar power, battery backup, and some type of diesel generation, just as a backup, not primary source. So, these are hybrid services. We are looking to install it in five villages with the current funds. What we are also doing, we are doing a mapping exercise of the entire country to determine what is best to serve the different communities, whether it be traditional grid extensions through B.E.L. or through the use of these micro-grids. While this program does not cover all the villages it will develop the framework on how to connect the other villages as well.”