By Belize Live News Staff: Belize has taken a historic step toward modernizing its transportation system with the launch of the country’s first three electric buses. The Ministry of Transportation signed an agreement yesterday with Westline Bus Company Ltd., officially awarding the company the management contract for this milestone initiative.
The project, supported by the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), represents a key achievement under Plan Belize. It aims to provide cleaner, safer, and more efficient travel for commuters, while reducing the country’s carbon footprint and expanding access to renewable energy.
According to officials, this marks the beginning of a new era in national highway transportation, promising better connections for families, workers, and students while setting the stage for a sustainable and modernized public transport network.
The process that led to the official signing began in August 2024 with the launch of the first Expression of Interest, which was widely shared through national media and directly with bus operators. Following consultations, meetings, and extensions of the deadline, the Ministry received three bids in November 2024. However, those submissions did not meet the necessary standards and the process was relaunched in March 2025.
By April 2025, seven operators had expressed interest, and four complete bids were submitted by the end of that month. An evaluation committee comprising technical officials from the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics, the Public-Private Partnership Unit, and the Ministry of Transportation reviewed the submissions. On July 2, 2025, Westline Bus Company Ltd. was identified as the top candidate, earning the highest overall score in both technical and financial assessments.
The agreement was formally signed on August 20, 2025, in Belmopan, marking the official start of Belize’s transition to electric buses. The first three units will soon begin operating on the national highways, bringing with them the promise of sustainable development, cleaner travel, and a stronger transportation system for the country.
