Belize Electricity Limited warns of potential power outages

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) has issued warnings regarding potential power interruptions and load shedding across various communities due to a projected power shortfall. The company noted that high electricity demand, combined with limited supply from domestic sources and Mexico’s CFE, has necessitated a tentative load shedding schedule to prevent grid instability.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, CEO of the Ministry of Public Utilities, explained that while Mexico serves as a backup, BEL lacks sufficient domestic reserves to meet demand when external supply is unavailable. Load shedding is used to redistribute available power and avoid total grid failure. The schedule aims to prioritize critical services, such as hospitals and schools, while rotating outages across different regions including Belize City, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and Corozal.