Page 17 - CE_Industral_Journal_Jan2008

Transmission Voltage Upgrade & Line Design

Upgrade of the Southern Transmission Feed to Dangriga,

Independence and Punta Gorda from 34.5 kV to 69 kV.

CONTACT
Corporate Communications Department
Belize Electricity Limited
Tel: 501-227-0954 Ext. 135

PREAMBLE Background to the Upgrade of the
Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is the primary distribu- Southern Transmission Line
tor of electricity in Belize, Central America. Serving Prior to 1995, BEL supplied power to its various service
approximately 69,000 customers, the Company meets areas via isolated diesel generators. To reduce genera-
a peak demand of 63 megawatts (MW) from multiple tion cost and improve service reliability, the Company
sources of energy including power purchases from initiated construction of a National Electricity Grid in
Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL), from the 1993.
Mexican state-owned power company Comisión Fed- The first phase of the project was completed in 1995
eral de Electricidad (CFE) and from its own diesel-fired and saw the connection of the 25 megawatt Mollejon
generators. All load centers on the mainland are con- Hydroelectric Plant to Belize City and all other load
nected to the country’s National Electricity Grid, which centers in the western region of the country.
is interconnected with the Mexican National Grid,
allowing BEL to optimize its power supply options.
Fortis Inc. holds a 68% interest in BEL.

This 25 MW Mollejon Hydroelectric Plant is located in western Belize and is owned
and operated by BEL’s sister Company Belize Electric Company Limited (BECOL)
Industry Journal 16