UDP calls electricity crisis a national security threat after nationwide blackout

By Breaking Belize News Staff: The United Democratic Party says Belize’s dependence on imported electricity has developed into both an economic crisis and a national security concern, following Tuesday night’s nationwide blackout.

Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton said the outage demonstrated Belize’s vulnerability when electricity from Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) is unavailable. She criticized delays in renewable generation and battery-storage projects and demanded firm timelines for projects already financed or announced by Government.

BEL said Wednesday that the August 25 blackout began at approximately 7:28 p.m. after a temporary loss of supply from Mexico. At the time, Belize had approximately 103 megawatts of in-country generation available against evening demand of about 122 megawatts. CFE supply was restored at 10:54 p.m.

The situation comes as BEL faces significant financial pressure. Executive Chairman Lynn Young disclosed this week that the company owes CFE roughly BZ$30 million, with around BZ$20 million overdue, and that Government has assisted the utility in meeting some of its obligations.

Panton also questioned delays surrounding major solar and storage initiatives, arguing that financing announcements have so far produced little immediate relief for consumers. Recent reporting indicates that large-scale solar generation now being pursued may not come online until around 2029.

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