Mauritius Launches Project to Reduce Dependence on Oil-produced Electricity

Abu Taleb Kasenally, the Mauritius minister of Public Utilities on Saturday launched the project “Mauritius-Sustainable Island” (MSI) with the objective of producing electricity from new renewable sources and reducing wastage in the sector.

Speaking to an assembly made up of staff of the ministry, hotel owners and staff of the University of Mauritius at the Rajiv Gandhi center in the Mauritian capital Port Louis, Kasenally argued that the time for dilly-dallying is gone and that the energy crisis is at the doorsteps of the people of Mauritius.

He added that the country still depends on oil for its electricity production, even though he said some 21% of its production already comes from renewable energy.

Kasenally declared that the MSI project will benefit from an allocation of US$40 million for the financial year 2008/2009. He said already, US$35 million has been voted in the current budget and the rest will come from the new tax on each liter of fuel and the increase in road tax. He observed that the allocation will be increased year by year until the state can produce up to 80% of all the energy it needs from renewable sources.

Minister Kasenally pointed out that the government will need the help of the public to reduce electricity consumption. In this regard, he said the use of compact fluorescent lamps will be encouraged. The government, the minister indicated, has already ordered one million such lamps and the sale to the public at cost price will start the end of July.

The state, he added, will in the very near future set up the Utility Regulatory Body which aims at encouraging small producers to produce their own electricity and also sell the surplus power that they produce.

Incentives will be given to them as all taxes on solar panels and small wind turbines have been removed. Additionally, he said, two new hydropower stations will soon be built.

Source African Press Agency

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