Belize Natural Energy: Headquarters Location

Belize Natural Energy (BNE) is an oil and gas company based in the Western District near Spanish Lookout in Belize. It was founded in 2002 by Susan Morrice, a geologist, and Mike Usher, a Belizean. BNE was the first company to successfully drill for oil in Belize, discovering it on a farmer's property in Spanish Lookout in 2005. Since then, BNE has established itself as a world-class Belizean company, producing approximately 2,000 barrels of crude oil per day and contributing over USD 240 million in government revenues. BNE's headquarters are located at the Central Gathering Facility in Iguana Creek, Belize.

Belize Natural Energy's location in the Western District near Spanish Lookout

Belize Natural Energy is located in the Western District near Spanish Lookout in Belize. The company was founded in 2002 by Susan Morrice, an experienced geologist, and Mike Usher, a Belizean. They began exploratory drilling in 2005 and discovered oil on a farmer's property in Spanish Lookout, unlocking Belize's commercial oil reserves. This discovery was significant as it was the first successful drilling operation in Belize, with previous attempts by other companies being unsuccessful.

The company's location in the Western District near Spanish Lookout is strategic as it is close to one of the two oil fields located in Belize, the other being northwest of Belmopan. The Spanish Lookout Oil Field has peaked at 5,000+ barrels per day of Belize Light Crude. BNE has established itself as a world-class Belizean company, contributing significantly to the country's economy and energy sector.

The company's location near Spanish Lookout also allows it to have a people-centered approach and be a pioneer in the region's energy solutions. They have established a Charitable Trust to target community problems and fulfill its needs. BNE has partnered with various organizations to empower people in the community and improve infrastructure. Their expanded vision includes growing their upstream and downstream oil and gas portfolio and expanding into power generation, with a focus on social and environmental responsibility.

The company's discovery of oil in 2005

Belize Natural Energy (BNE) is an oil and gas company based in the Western District near Spanish Lookout in Belize. The company was founded by Susan Morrice, an Irish geologist, and her Belizean business partner, Mike Usher. Morrice and Usher co-founded BNE in 1992, although their "meeting of [their] minds" occurred earlier when the pair met while working in Denver.

In 2005, BNE discovered oil in Belize, becoming the first company to do so successfully. The discovery was made on a farmer's property in the Mennonite agricultural community of Spanish Lookout in Western Belize. The well was named "Mike Usher #1" in honour of Usher, who had passed away in 2004, a year before the discovery.

The discovery of oil by BNE was significant as it was the first commercial oil discovery in Belize. Prior to this, several major oil companies had unsuccessfully explored for commercial oil and gas in the country since the 1930s. Exxon, Shell, Phillips, and Chevron had all attempted to find oil in Belize, drilling fifty dry holes with no success.

BNE's discovery in 2005 unlocked Belize's commercial oil reserves and marked a turning point for the country. This success was attributed to the application of mind technology, which Morrice had learned about at an Educo Seminar in 2002. The seminar helped Morrice and Usher elucidate their vision for Belize, which was not only to discover oil but also to empower the people of the country. They believed that oil and gas would positively transform Belize and that the development of human energy was key to the country's future.

Following the discovery, BNE established itself as a Belizean company with world-class standards. The company took on the task of developing the necessary infrastructure to produce and market Belize Light Crude, as there was no existing oil industry infrastructure in the country at the time. BNE has since drilled over 62 wells and produced more than 10 million barrels of crude oil. The company has contributed significantly to the country, including generating government revenues exceeding USD 240 million and providing training to company and government employees in oil and gas operations.

Belize's energy sources: fossil fuels, biomass, hydro, and imported electricity

Belize's energy sources are fossil fuels, biomass, hydro, and imported electricity. Belize currently imports 100% of its fossil fuel use, with Mexico being the primary source of imported petroleum products. Belize does not have a government-supported oil company, but Irish-backed Belize Natural Energy (BNE) is the country's only oil company. BNE was founded by geologist Susan Morrice and Belizean Mike Usher, and it began exploratory drilling in 2005, discovering oil on a farmer's property in Spanish Lookout.

Belize has been seeking to diversify its energy sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. In 2003, the Public Utilities Commission implemented a one-year project to develop a National Energy Policy to promote environmentally sound, safe, reliable, and affordable energy. As of 2020, indigenous renewable resources such as hydropower and biomass accounted for 58.04% of Belize's installed capacity and 90.53% of electrical generation.

Belize has also been taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the Belize and Nicaragua Logs Recovery project aims to reduce emissions and prevent deforestation by salvaging mahogany and other logs in the Belize and Nicaragua Rivers. Additionally, Belize has been a participant in the Kyoto Protocol and the United Nations' program REDD (Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation).

In terms of employment in the energy sector, as of 2020, 15.7% of those employed in Belize worked in the industry sector, which includes mining, quarrying, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, and water. Belize's electrical generating capacity in 2020 was 131.3 MW, and the country produced 433 GWh of electricity that year.

The country's sustainable energy project policies

Belize Natural Energy is an established oil and gas company based in the Western District near Spanish Lookout in Belize. It is the first company to successfully drill for oil in the country. The company was founded by Susan Morrice (or Morris), an Irish geologist, and Belizean Mike Usher in 2002. They began drilling in 2005 and discovered oil on a farmer's property in Spanish Lookout.

Belize has been developing sustainable energy project policies, with the goal of becoming a net exporter of energy to neighbouring countries. The country has invested in domestically produced energy over the last 20 years to stabilise its energy sector. The Government of Belize is keen to improve its energy sustainability by investing in hydropower, biomass, solar, and liquified petroleum gas (LPG). The country's leading energy subsectors are looking to expand biomass and small-scale solar, as well as create new opportunities in electric vehicles, large-scale solar, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and waste-to-energy.

Belize is still a net importer of electricity from Mexico, which makes energy imports expensive and unpredictable. To combat this, the government is encouraging investment in utility solar-energy facilities, although it has not yet requested proposals. On a smaller scale, the government has installed solar microgrids and solar-powered street lights in rural communities not yet connected to the national grid.

In 2022, the government launched a pilot project to introduce electric vehicles, with the eventual goal of replacing the country's diesel school bus fleet with electric buses. The Ministry of Public Utilities installed the first of twelve national electric vehicle charging stations in the city of San Pedro.

Belize is also taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Belize and Nicaragua Logs Recovery project aims to reduce emissions and prevent deforestation by salvaging mahogany and other logs in the Belize and Nicaragua Rivers. The country is also coordinating efforts with the United Nations' program REDD (Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) to improve forest management and reduce deforestation.

Belize Natural Energy's charitable work

The vision of the Trust is to "empower people" and help them believe that they can create better lives for themselves and their communities. They aim to achieve this by providing funding to organizations and individual projects/programs that are aimed at the empowerment of people and communities in Belize.

One of the key initiatives of the Trust is the National Student Loan Program, which has been running since 2009 in partnership with various credit unions across Belize. The program provides financial assistance to students pursuing higher education, helping to make education more accessible and supporting the development of a skilled workforce in the country.

In addition to the student loan program, the Trust has also invested in other educational initiatives such as the Dare to Dream Big Program and the Restore Belize Scholarship Program. These programs aim to nurture the talents and aspirations of Belize's youth, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact in their communities.

The Trust also supports community development by providing funding for projects that enhance social and environmental well-being. For example, they have partnered with the Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology (BEST) to provide aid for schools, including repairing and improving infrastructure. They have also supported the inauguration of a computer laboratory at the Cayo Center for Employment Training and donated an industrial stove to the San Pablo Community Government School.

Through these initiatives and more, Belize Natural Energy, via the Belize Natural Energy Charitable Trust, is committed to making a lasting positive impact in Belize, empowering individuals and communities to thrive and create a better future for themselves and the nation.

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