Coye and his contingent also met with senior representatives of the Saudi Fund for Development. The discussion focused on the status of the design and construction of the tertiary-level university hospital to be built in Belmopan and the 60MW utility-scale solar energy generation plant.
Coye gave us an update on the Solar project.
Chris Coye, Min. of State, Ministry of Finance
"That site selection is ongoing. They had originally cut it down to 19 sites. Now it's down to 10 sites. The final, we're hoping to get it down to about five sites where the solar, ideally we'd want to put it at two sites."
"As far as I understand BEL can only handle a certain, the transmission grid can only handle 20 megs, 20 megs, maybe 30. Technically we have to clarify that part. But if it's 30, then it's two sites. If it's 20, it's three sites."
"Then subsequent to that, then we'll have to look at procurement. I think that would be more that kind of turnkey approach, a design build approach in terms of setting up the solar plant. But it has to be aligned with the technical capabilities of the transmission grid."
Jules Vasquez
"You all are doing this backwards. I'm saying that usually how projects are done. And you would know this is, you identify the needs and you build a project around that to try and fulfill the needs in a sustainable way. But what you all seem to be doing is that you all are saying, well, if we build it, we will figure out the needs after. It seems to be a type of reverse engineering."
Chris Coye, Min. of State, Ministry of Finance
"I don't totally disagree with you. But what are the needs? I mean, first what are the needs?"
Jules Vasquez
"The need is for firm power. Thats the need for firm power."
Chris Coye, Min. of State, Ministry of Finance
"There are two needs, when it comes to electricity. You need the capacity and you need the stability. We don't have either. So we are working on both. Because we're doing solar, it doesn't mean that we're not dealing with the firm side. I don't know if you are familiar, but we are right now working with the World Bank on a battery energy storage project."
Belize's delegation included Governor of the Central Bank of Belize, Kareem Michael, and Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Economic Development, Dr. Osmond Martinez.
