Belize to Expand Access to Electricity for Rural Communities with IDB Support

WASHINGTON — The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a US$23.75 million financing package to expand access to electricity for rural populations in Belize, helping improve quality of life and economic opportunities.

The package consists of a US$20 million Global Multiple Works (GOM) loan from the Bank’s Ordinary Capital, a US$2.75 million nonreimbursable investment grant from the Bank’s Nonreimbursable Financing Facility, and a US$1 million nonreimbursable grant from the Bank’s Low Carbon Energy Fund.

The program will increase household access to electricity services in rural communities with a high proportion of Indigenous peoples and migrants, strengthen technical and institutional capacity to plan, operate, and maintain rural electrification investments, and promote awareness of productive uses of electricity in rural areas.

“This is the IDB's first energy sector operation in Belize. By advancing rural electrification, economic inclusion, and access to essential services, this program represents a major step toward a more sustainable and inclusive Belize”, highlighted Karla González, IDB Country Representative for Belize. 

Approximately 3,000 rural households will benefit directly by gaining access to electricity for the first time, while Belize’s population more broadly will benefit from improved planning, implementation, and sustainability of electricity services.

The program will finance the design, construction, and installation of solar photovoltaic mini-grids equipped with battery energy storage systems and smart metering technologies, as well as the expansion of the distribution network to connect households and community facilities and the infrastructure needed to link new users to the electricity grid.

The US$20 million loan has a 25-year repayment term, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on SOFR.