Energy and Climate Change Mitigation

Resources

Sustainable Energy Capacity Building Initiative (SECBI) – Caribbean Region

Project name

Towards the Intensification of Energy Efficiency Efforts in Government, Businesses and Households in Belize.

General Information

Applicant Institution:Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities, Government of Belize
Principal Contact: Ambrose Tillett, Energy Director
Address: Market Square, Belmopan, Belize
Telephone: +501-822-0160/62
Email:[email protected]
Internet homepage:www.estpu.gov.bz

Project Concept

In 2011 Belize developed its first National Energy Policy (NEP) Framework. The NEP highlighted key issues for the energy sector in Belize including the need for greater energy efficiency, and renewable energy with a view to improving energy security and energy access.

In 2013-2014, a National Sustainable Energy Strategy (NSES) was developed for Belize, identifying key barriers and recommendations for development of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Both the NSES and the NEP align closely with Belize’s overarching development strategy, Horizon 2030.

Objectives

  1. Contribute to Belize’s sustainable development goals

  2. Accelerate an enabling environment for investments in, adoption and integration of energy efficient technologies, particularly on energy efficiency.

Outcomes

  • Recommendations to adapt minimum energy performance standards for appliances and equipment and the action plan for implementing these standards. Received endorsement to extend to the entire CARICOM region;
  • Proposed a new utility business model for Belize Electric, Ltd. (BEL), known as the Integrated Utility Companies (IUC) model. During the Sixtieth Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) held on January 11-13, 2016 in Guyana, the Belize utility business model gained regional recognition and is now endorsed as an integral part of CARICOM’s regional strategy for energy efficiency.

Development Impact

Overall Expected Result: An improved and modernized energy sector that is effectively integrating energy efficient technology. This will be facilitated by the establishment of an enabling legal and institutional environment for investments in energy efficiency by all actors in the sector. It is anticipated that the primary beneficiaries will be the end users of electricity as in the long term they will be benefit from reduced expenses associated with electricity utilization. The private sector, including the companies involved in the production, transmission and distribution of electricity and the supply of appliances, will also benefit through the access to additional services like ESCO’s and improved access to energy efficient technologies.

Project Sustainability: The project harmonize with the National Energy Policy of Belize, the Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy (under preparation), and are therefore based on sound economic and financial analysis. Increasing energy efficiency is also environmentally sustainable as it results in reduced greenhouse gas emission and has no adverse impacts to the natural environment.

To achieve the timely transformation of the energy markets is not possible without leveraging resources and capacities at the sub-regional or hemispheric level. This project is leveraged with the ESD-Caraibes project to gain access to resources at the sub-regional level. The OAS-SECBI project creates an opportunity to pool a greater mass of capabilities to deliver on the ambitious goals and targets set out in the national sustainable energy strategy action plan.

Partners

  • Partner Name: Inter-American Development Bank

Principal Contact: Christian Gischler Blanco
Telephone: +1 202 623 3411
Email: [email protected]
Internet home page: http://www.iadb.org/en/countries/belize/belize-and-the-idb,1082.html

  • Partner Name: Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre

Principal Contact: Dr. Al Binger
Telephone: +(501) 822-1094
Email: [email protected]
Internet home page: http://esd.sidsdock.org/