A series of consultations conducted by the Ministry of Public Utilities and Energy pertaining to the generation of renewable energy using heat and power culminated with a training today on the use of organic waste as a source for renewable energy. Present at the session was Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and e-Governance Michel Chebat. According to Energy Officer Kayla Gabourel, the initiative is in line with government's National Energy Policy.

Kayla Gabourel, Energy Officer, Energy Unit

"The Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and e-Governance, through the Energy Unit, embarked on an assignment with an objective to conduct a pre-feasibility study for two specific cogeneration plants, being heat and power. From the utilization of the organic waste streams available in country, there is a vast availability of waste streams in country, including municipal waste and agricultural and farm residues. The 2011 National Energy Policy makes mention that agri-based industries will be encouraged to produce electricity from waste. This is in alignment with the UN sustainable development goals that the Government of Belize, along with the European Union have chosen to collaborate, seeking to achieve sustainability. This pre-feasibility study is a first step. This initiative commenced in early June of this year. The initial consultation with many of you, whom we were able to meet in person briefly occurred in August. The preliminary data collection exercise served as the basis for the consulting team to generate in their initial analysis that they will be in today's sessions."

Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy

"As you all know, we share a world with very limited resources and so, we must take advantage of all the resources we have, regardless of where they come from, particularly if they are manmade, as waste products are. And so this waste to energy is a productive method of relieving stresses on natural and manmade resources. It truly would be remiss of me if I did not highlight the huge potential of waste to energy in the achievement of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement which are among the most important international agreements which will help to set the transformative path to 2030 and beyond. Waste to energy can be a powerful tool for achieving many of the goals, particularly the goals of this government and particularly the goal we have committed to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

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