BEL Provides Update on Generation Capacity and Measures to Strengthen Electricity Supply

Press Release issued September 1, 2026 – Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) informs its Customers and the public that the Company continues to actively manage available generation and advance measures to strengthen electricity supply and the reliability of the National Grid.
Over the past week, two major outages highlighted the importance of maintaining adequate generation reserves. On August 25, available in-country generation was approximately 103 megawatts (MW), while evening demand reached 122 MW. On August 31, available in-country generation was approximately 109 MW against demand of 117 MW. On both occasions, the temporary loss of electricity supply from Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), at a time when local generation was already below demand, resulted in temporary loss of power to the National Grid.
Available in-country generation continues to be influenced by seasonal conditions, scheduled maintenance and reduced output from some generating facilities. BEL continues to closely manage these conditions while working to ensure that adequate supply is available to meet Customer demand.
As part of these efforts, BEL advised in October 2025 of a potential electricity supply shortfall in 2026, following which Cabinet made a declaration of emergency under the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) (Request for Proposal) Regulations, 2024. This enabled BEL to procure temporary generation capacity, which is currently being installed at the Westlake Facility and is expected to begin operations by mid-September 2026 for an initial six-month period.
This additional generation will provide important support to the National Grid, particularly during periods of high demand or when another source of supply becomes temporarily unavailable.
BEL’s August 26, 2026 letter to the PUC forms part of the Company’s ongoing regulatory responsibility to assess electricity supply requirements for the upcoming 12 months and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to support Belize’s growing energy needs.
While BEL continues to strengthen available generation, there may be instances where controlled power interruptions or load shedding are required to maintain the stability of the National Grid, particularly if a significant source of supply is unexpectedly lost. BEL will continue taking all available measures to minimize any impact on Customers.
We appreciate the patience and understanding of our Customers as we continue working to strengthen Belize’s electricity supply and improve the resilience and reliability of the National Grid.