By Belize Live News Staff: Rolling blackouts, load shedding and generation shortfalls will now be examined by the Senate after senators from all sides supported a motion for a Special Select Committee on the energy sector.
Business Senator Kevin Herrera said the country is being held back by its electricity problems.
“Our country is currently paralyzed at certain times of the year by an energy crisis, from our smallest villages to our largest municipalities,” he said.
NGO Senator Janelle Chanona backed the motion, calling it a meaningful response to public calls for accountability. She also endorsed calls for full honesty and transparency as Belize works toward energy security.
PUP Senator Chris Coye said the government side could not oppose the motion, noting that economic growth depends on a reliable power supply.
“My biggest concern across so many areas of our economy is that we keep getting in our own way,” Coye said, adding that he hopes the committee identifies that problem.
The inquiry comes at a critical time. BEL has asked the PUC to double the COPA cap on electricity bills, government has committed $73 million to buy BEL preference shares, and the utility says it needs another $20 million to pay Mexico’s CFE. In August, two major outages hit when supply from Mexico was lost, and Cabinet later approved an emergency declaration to secure more generation.
Hearings will begin once the committee is formed.
