By Vishu Adhana
Port Louis (Mauritius), April 11 (ANI): Facing increasing demands to address its escalating energy requirements and shift toward more sustainable sources of power, Mauritius has turned to India for support in obtaining technical expertise and fostering cooperation within the energy industry, with an emphasis on renewable resources, as reported by ANI.
The Indian government plans to dispatch a group of chief specialists in May to aid the Mauritius Central Electricity Board (CEB) with energy planning and regulatory enhancement, according to officials from the Mauritian Ministry of Energy.
As stated by Zeenat Guness-Gooljar, the Permanent Secretary of Mauritius’,
Ministry of Energy
The expert’s visit expected in May will signify the first tangible progress since the proposal submissions.
“This is already one soon-to-materialize concrete action following our proposals,” she said, adding that further engagement is expected in the energy domain.
During the conversation, it became clear that Mauritius is encountering several difficulties concerning energy security. There has been an observed surge in power demands recently. Therefore, when it comes to our future plans for electricity generation, we will require certain forms of support and aid,” she stated.
In February 2025, Mauritius saw its most significant peak electricity usage ever recorded at 567.9 megawatts (MW).
The challenge lies in ensuring adequate power supply to address the nation’s expanding requirements. When discussing power, this includes not only production but also transportation, dissemination, and more recently, battery storage. Our objective is to achieve an environmentally friendly transformation, and we aspire to have Indian technical specialists evaluate our infrastructure, provide direction, and exchange optimal procedures,” she stated.
Another official from Mauritius
Ministry of Energy
confirmed that the outreach to India includes around 10-15 proposals, submitted via the Mauritian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Indian High Commission here.
The suggestions cover various forms of support including technological, financial, and capacity development for both the energy and water industries.
India’s assistance is also being leveraged for initiating and expanding renewable energy initiatives in Mauritius. “We face hurdles with significant utility-scale projects not getting prompt clearances. Therefore, we’re contemplating a phased strategy—beginning with a modest pilot project at one of our reservoirs before escalating it,” explained Guness-Gooljar.
Mauritius has set a target to generate 60 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as part of its national strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition to a low-carbon economy.
The country is also focusing on broadening its range of energy sources, which involves embracing green hydrogen technology.
The Mauritius government stated their interest in leveraging Indian expertise for the conceptual design and eventual implementation of offshore hydrogen initiatives along with related vessels in the Indian Ocean region. “India’s capabilities in this highly specialized and technical field could be immensely beneficial to our efforts,” she noted.
Throughout the years, India has made considerable contributions to the development of renewable energy projects in Mauritius, highlighting the robustness of their close bilateral relationship.
An impressive initiative is the 8 MW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Plant in Henrietta, which was inaugurated in November 2023. Developed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) through India’s line of credit, this venture aims to reduce around 13,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year, supporting Mauritius’ sustainability objectives. (ANI)
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
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