Mauritius Turns to Floating Power Plant Solution

Mauritius finds itself grappling with frequent power outages, prompting the government to seek assistance from a floating power plant. This vessel, operated by Karpowership, is predominantly active in Africa and is set to dock at Salines, Port-Louis, in a bid to bolster the nation’s electricity supply and mitigate the looming threat of blackouts.

Struggles of the Central Electricity Board

As tensions rise within the national electricity grid, the Mauritian authorities, particularly the Central Electricity Board (CEB), are preparing to welcome this floating energy ship.

This decision comes at a time when the CEB is increasingly struggling to generate sufficient electricity to meet the country’s demands.

Since the beginning of the year, several Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have been temporarily taken offline for maintenance or repairs, exacerbating supply deficits.

Compounding the crisis, the Nicolay power station, operated by the CEB, has also reported difficulties with certain engines.

Minister’s Warning

The gravity of the situation was underscored by Ashok Subron, Minister of Social Integration, Social Security, and National Solidarity, and leader of Rezistans ek Alternativ, during a congress in Curepipe on Wednesday 30th April, held in the context of the municipal elections.

“The country is in danger regarding its electricity supply,” he declared.

He further asserted that the engines of both the CEB and the IPPs are outdated. “We need to take steps to see if we can bring in a ship from Turkey, akin to a power plant, and position it at Port-Louis.

It will provide electricity for 10 to 12 months, as all the CEB engines are old and the IPP engines have reached the end of their lifespan. Each engine costs between Rs 4 to 5 billion.”

Structural Challenges Confirmed

The minister’s remarks confirm the structural challenges facing the CEB. Sunil Dowarkasing, a sustainable development consultant and former strategist for Greenpeace, lamented that this critical situation is the result of a glaring lack of foresight.

“The situation is dire. This is something that should have been anticipated long ago.

The CEB has lacked an action plan since the conclusion of the Integrated Electricity Plan in 2022,” he emphasised.

Decline in Renewable Energy

Dowarkasing pointed to an incomplete energy transition, with available data revealing a continuous decline in the share of renewable energy within the national energy mix: 12.3% in 2021, 10% in 2022, and a further drop to 9.8% in 2023.

The figures for 2024 are expected to be released in July. “There has been a failure in planning and vision. Unless there is a plan somewhere, which has not been made public,” he remarked.

Recent Power Shortfalls

At the start of 2024, simultaneous outages in two units at the IPPs, coupled with the maintenance of a CEB generator, resulted in a shortfall of 102 megawatts on the grid.

“This is a very serious observation made by the CEB. It demonstrates a complete lack of vision,” he noted.

Flaws in the Energy System

The decision to resort to a floating energy vessel, according to Dowarkasing, is highlighting the flaws within the system.

“We have failed for years to make the energy transition. The CEB’s 2013-2022 plan aimed for 35% renewable energy by 2025. Had they achieved this goal, we would not be facing these issues today.”

Looking to Karpowership

All eyes are now on the Turkish company Karpowership. In the face of this energy emergency, it is this provider that the government is expected to turn to for dispatching a generator ship to Mauritius.

What is a Floating Power Plant?

Floating energy vessels—commonly referred to as powerships—are maritime power stations designed to temporarily supply electricity to countries facing production deficits.

Developed primarily by the Turkish company Karpowership, these autonomous units can generate several hundred megawatts and inject this energy directly into the national grid via an onboard substation.

Operating on heavy fuel oil, liquefied natural gas, or biofuel, these ships are utilised by several West African nations, including Ghana, where they account for approximately a quarter of national demand.

While this solution offers a rapid response to an energy crisis, it proves costly in the medium term compared to investments in sustainable land-based infrastructure.

A Model for Energy Reconsideration

For Dowarkasing, the reliance on IPPs, which constitute 55% of electricity production in Mauritius, hinders the democratisation of energy.

“We should invest in a decentralised, interconnected network with regional grids.

Today, they claim that renewable energy production must be limited due to a lack of space on the grid.”

He argued that the prospect of a more open network, allowing small independent electricity producers to participate, is essential for any meaningful transition.

He cited the example of Réunion, where 56.6% of electricity production came from renewable sources in 2023, according to the Réunion Energy Observatory.

The Mauritian government has committed to achieving 60% renewable energy by 2030, with a target of carbon neutrality by 2050.

But for this vision to materialise, Dowarkasing concludes, “the CEB must completely reinvent itself, modernise, and transition to a decentralised system.”

Source: Defi Media