CFE UNABLE TO PROVIDE BEL WITH FIRM ENERGY

April 30, 2009

Belize Electricity Limited says it is working to secure sufficient energy supply to meet the country’s peak demand of over 74 megawatts after the company received a notice from Comision Federal de Electricidad of Mexico that it will not be able to supply BEL with firm energy for the next four months beginning May 8.  BEL says during the dry season it purchases as much as 43 megawatts of firm capacity from CFE.   BEL says in its notice CFE explained that damage to major generating equipment in central Campeche following the total system outage yesterday has severely limited its capacity to provide firm energy to the Yucatan Peninsula which has forced that company to suspend the firm energy supplied to BEL.  This damage was responsible for a national power outage in Belize.  BEL says it currently sources power from hydroelectricity, the West Lake Generating facility, diesel generating plants in Belmopan and Caye Caulker and from mobile units.  BEL goes on to say that since hydroelectyric production is less than it is in the rainy season, BEL will continue to use local generation sources efficiently to minimize possible power outages.  BEL ends its release by encouraging customers to continue practicing energy conservation.

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