BELMOPAN, Belize, (CMC) –  The Belize government says it launched the Special Electricity Committee (SEC) to spearhead the development of a National Electrical Energy Mix Master Plan aimed at securing the country’s energy future through a reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity supply.

The SEC was formed following a high-level energy meeting convened by Prime Minister John Briceño that brought together key national energy stakeholders to address the critical state of Belize’s electricity sector.

It said that recognising the urgent need for strategic action, the Committee’s mandate is to chart a path that diversifies Belize’s energy mix, reduces dependence on imports, and prioritises renewable energy integration.

The  SEC, chaired by Leroy Almendarez, the chief executive officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics, is developing the comprehensive master plan that must ensure a reliable and consistent power supply; maintains affordable electricity rates; prioritises the use of renewable and non-greenhouse gas-emitting energy sources.

The authorities say that the key objectives include revising Belize’s Least Cost Expansion Plan (LCEP), assessing energy demand over two, five and and 10-year periods and ensuring the plan is grounded in technical rigour and broad stakeholder consultation.

The SEC’s priority actions will include commissioning a national grid study, assessing renewable energy potential, battery storage, and baseload/peaking plant needs. It is also to identifying priority generation projects, including short-term Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for solar plus battery energy storage systems (BESS) as well as exploring interconnection agreements with Mexico and Guatemala for two-way energy trade.

“This committee is not just a technical body, it is a national effort to ensure every Belizean has access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity. The work of the SEC is critical as Belize transitions to a resilient energy future,” said Almendarez.