In a stark and alarming address at a press conference on Thursday 8th May, Patrick Assirvaden, the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, painted a grim picture of the nation’s energy landscape.

“We are teetering on the edge of a precarious agreement. This is far from comfortable. A nation cannot allow its energy security to hinge on the whims of a machine or the caprices of the weather. No!”

Minister Assirvaden declared emphatically at the ministry’s headquarters in Port-Louis, shedding light on the dire state of the country’s energy infrastructure.

The Ageing Energy Infrastructure

Assirvaden highlighted the troubling reality that the Central Electricity Board (CEB) has not renewed its power plants in over a decade, with some machines now aged between 27 and 32 years.

This is compounded by the presence of private power plants (IPPs) that have similarly surpassed the 20-year mark. Minister added further:

“We find ourselves with an energy portfolio comprised of machines and turbines that have long exceeded their optimal lifespan,”

Rising Electricity Demand and System Strain

Currently, Mauritius boasts an installed capacity of 626 megawatts, yet the demand continues to surge.

The Minister cited a record-breaking electricity demand of 567.9 megawatts on 5 February, which escalated to approximately 600 megawatts by March.

In response, emergency procedures have been activated to ensure supply, particularly in critical areas that require constant electricity.

The strain on the electrical network is particularly acute between 6 PM and 9 PM.

System Fragility as Heat and Failures Mount

As the heat persists and air conditioning units operate at full throttle, the situation has deteriorated further in March, with failures occurring in IPP machinery, followed by the ageing turbines of the CEB.

While maintenance has been sanctioned, the system grows increasingly fragile.

This precarious situation has repeated itself multiple times, with outages reported at the Savannah Thermal Company (CTSav), the Southern Thermal Company (CTDS), and Fort Victoria.

Such occurrences starkly underline a troubling lack of supply security, with some regions experiencing intermittent power cuts, as admitted by Assirvaden.

The Role and Crucial Importance of the CEB

The CEB, he asserted, plays a pivotal role as a facilitator within the nation.

“It is not merely an organisation that produces and sells electricity; it is a key player in the economy and industry. Without the CEB, there is no economy. Thus, the current situation is exceedingly concerning.”

Managing Demand and the Energy Mix

At present, the CEB employs a control system to manage demand, optimising available renewable energies such as hydroelectric power and storage batteries to ensure supply aligns with needs, thereby maintaining the balance of the energy mix.

The Minister noted that while the approach of winter may alleviate some pressure on electricity demand, immediate action is deemed essential to avert a crisis.

Powership: A Temporary but Urgent Solution

In light of these pressing challenges, the introduction of a ‘powership’—a floating power plant equipped with turbines capable of generating between 90 and 110 megawatts—has been proposed as a temporary measure to address the escalating electricity demand.

Energy Security at the Top of the Agenda

In the face of an escalating energy crisis, the imperative of ensuring the nation’s energy security has surged to the forefront of the agenda for the Ministry of Energy and the Central Electricity Board (CEB).

The Minister, Patrick Assirvaden, reassured the public, stating, “Several renewable energy projects are currently underway.”

He elaborated, “Additionally, batteries have already been ordered; a GIS project is also planned to enhance our networks.

These initiatives are part of our forthcoming planning. Furthermore, solar energy projects are under consideration, both by the CEB and other organisations, with the aim of integrating them into the grid.

However, the absolute priority remains energy security.”

A Powership: The Urgent Short-Term Solution

With a staggering increase of 42 megawatts in demand over just a few weeks—far exceeding the usual annual rise of ten to fifteen megawatts—Mauritius finds itself in the throes of an energy emergency.

A temporary emergency solution involves the deployment of a ‘powership’—a floating power plant equipped with turbines capable of generating between 90 and 110 megawatts of electricity.

This technology, already in use in several countries, is likely to be stationed in the port area, approximately 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the mainland. The fuel utilised will be AV-type fuel.

Legal and Environmental Commitments

The Minister emphasised the necessity of moving forward as swiftly as possible, while ensuring strict adherence to legal frameworks and transparency.

“This project must comply with all environmental standards. Nothing will be undertaken at the expense of the environment, whether in the port area or elsewhere. It will be implemented within a legal framework, with all necessary permits.”

“In fact, several power plants already exist in the port region, such as the one at Fort-George.”

Procedural Steps and Timeline

The project has been presented to a committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister before being submitted to the Council of Ministers.

A Request for Proposal will be launched in the coming weeks, with the objective of swiftly signing a 5-year contract to facilitate energy delivery within eight to ten months, targeting a timeline between December 2025 and January 2026.

The Minister underscored that it is simply not feasible to wait two and a half to three years for the construction of a conventional power plant to meet electricity demand.

Financial Strain and Operational Challenges

With an estimated deficit of Rs 7.5 billion, the CEB is navigating a particularly challenging period.

Some turbines, such as those at the Nicolay station—originally designed to operate only during peak times—are now running throughout the day.

Consequently, they are generating electricity at a cost that can soar to Rs 17 per kilowatt-hour, while the CEB’s selling price remains significantly lower, as noted by the Minister.

This untenable situation has resulted in losses exceeding Rs 150 million. Minister Assirvaden lamented:

“When there has been no vision, no planning, look where it has brought this country today,”

Direct Purchase and Future Outlook

Thus, for the powership, the approach will involve directly purchasing the kilowatt-hour from the producer.

“Other projects are in progress. The goal is to ensure energy security while we await the fruition of these projects and the increase in the share of renewable energies,” Patrick Assirvaden concluded.

Source: l’Express