BEL Restores Power to the Country Using Standby Generation Sources

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) reports that local standby generating facilities were integral in restoring power supply to the country following unplanned power interruptions on Thursday, October 2, 2014 that affected the entire country, for various durations.

Power supply was being provided to the entire country via Belize Electric Company Limited's (BECOL) hdyro supply and Mexico's Comisi�n Federal de Electricidad (CFE), when a trip was experienced on the transmission system at 8:27 p.m. BEL crews later identified the fault as damage to a major structure on the transmission system in a remote area near Buena Vista, Corozal District. The damage on this major system, which links the country's transmission to CFE, caused a total system collapse. As part of the Company's restoration protocol, BEL immediately commenced restoration efforts using its Gas Turbine at West Lake and Blair Athol Power Company Limited (BAPCOL) standby units.

Within half hour, much of the South was restored using BAPCOL, and portions of the Belize District were restored using the Gas Turbine. The Gas Turbine was further used to restore the West and link with hdyro supply. By 10:00 p.m., CFE resumed direct supply to the entire Corozal and Orange Walk Districts.

However, at 9:56 p.m. power supply was again lost to the Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts when a generation supply failed. Within half hour, parts of the Cayo District and Belize City were restored using generation from BECOL and BEL's Gas Turbine, respectively. BAPCOL returned online about ten minutes after. With all three local sources along with Mexico's CFE, power supply was restored to the country between 10:25 p.m. and 12:20 a.m.

BEL crews completed repairs to the damaged transmission structure in the Corozal District and the system was restored to its normal mode of operation at 2:29 a.m.

BEL thanks its employees and Independent Power Producers who worked into the morning to restore power supply to the country. The Company also expresses its appreciation to customers for their patience and understanding.