Government adopts rural electrification plan for off-grid areas

The Briceno Cabinet has formally adopted the Least-Cost Rural Electrification Plan, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to electricity across Belize. The plan identifies the most cost-effective strategies for providing power to communities and households that are currently off the grid.  Cabinet has given the green light for the Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics to collaborate with various stakeholders to carry out these public electrification projects. The approved measures include: Line Extensions which would extend the existing electrical grid to new areas; Mini-Grid Systems which would create small, localized power grids that can operate independently from the national grid, often using renewable energy sources like solar or hydro power, as well as Standalone Solar PV Systems which would provide individual households with independent solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which include solar panels and batteries, for off-grid power generation.  WE understand that the plan is designed to be both economically viable and sustainable, ensuring that rural communities can gain access to reliable and affordable power.  We will have more on this story in tomorrow’s newscast.