Minister Assirvaden Justifies the “Powership” Project, 100 MW Urgently Needed

Mauritius faces an urgent energy crisis. On June 24, 2025, Energy Minister Patrick Assirvaden responded to a Private Notice Question (PNQ) from opposition leader Joe Lesjongard, questioning his official trip to Turkey and the discussions about leasing a “powership,” a floating energy vessel.

The trip, from April 21 to 23, 2025, raised questions in political circles. Lesjongard asked if the visit was related to negotiations for leasing a powership to address the current energy shortage.

Assirvaden confirmed he met with Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, as well as the Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

He explained that the talks focused on electric barge technology, where Turkey is a global leader.

The minister said the purpose of the trip was to explore a technology solution that Mauritius does not currently master, in response to a critical situation.

The total cost of the trip was Rs 695,000, covering travel and accommodation for Assirvaden and the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Electricity Board (CEB).

The minister emphasized the importance of visiting Turkey to evaluate options firsthand before committing to a project with significant economic and environmental impacts.

A Dire Energy Situation

Assirvaden painted a worrying picture of Mauritius’s energy sector. Since taking office in November 2024, he observed that the country’s power plants are aging, capacity has not increased, and demand is rising sharply. He blamed the previous government for the “energy failure.”

During summer 2024-2025, peak demand reached 567.9 MW, exceeding the forecast of 544 MW.

On April 25, the country narrowly avoided a blackout thanks to private hotels temporarily disconnecting from the grid.

He also mentioned a temporary shortfall of 167 MW due to simultaneous failures of major units.

The CEB, already struggling financially with a Rs 7 billion overdraft, cannot fulfill requests for 87 MW of new projects from developers.

Urgent and Environmentally Responsible Solution

To address this crisis, the government approved the emergency use of a powership capable of generating 90 to 110 MW.

An international tender was launched on June 18, with a deadline of August 15, 2025. The powership would supply electricity until new capacity becomes operational.

Minister Assirvaden stated, “We’re doing this not by choice but out of energy survival.”

He addressed environmental concerns about using heavy fuel oil on floating plants. The project will undergo a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and the chosen operator must meet international sulfur fuel standards.

Energy Minister dismissed claims that the project would worsen pollution around Port-Louis, asserting that environmental compliance will be strictly enforced.

Political Tensions and Criticism

The PNQ led to heated exchanges. Assirvaden accused the opposition’s Joe Lesjongard of neglecting the sector when he was minister.

“Since 2017, no major new energy project has been connected. The last was the St-Louis plant in 2017. You promised 60% renewable energy by 2030, but we’re only at 17.6%, including bagasse.”

Opposition Leader, Lesjongard, questioned the urgency, citing reports that some plants, like Fort George, could operate for another decade.

Assirvaden responded that, in reality, these plants often break down daily.

Regarding a five-year lease agreement, Assirvaden explained it includes an exit clause, serving as a short-term safety net to prevent widespread load shedding, not a long-term solution.

He highlighted that the tender process involved the African Legal Support Facility, ensuring transparency.

Minister Assirvaden warned that if Mauritius does not add at least 100 MW by December or January, partial or full load shedding is unavoidable. The government is ready to act but called for a mature, non-political debate on energy.

Lesjongard remained skeptical, noting that between 2019 and 2024, there were no load shedding incidents.

He questioned the project’s true urgency, environmental impact, and the lack of prior environmental studies. He also criticized the minister for not naming the Turkish companies involved in the barges.

Mauritius’s energy crisis has prompted urgent measures, including exploring foreign technology solutions like powerships.

While the government emphasized the necessity and safety of the project, opposition critics remain cautious about environmental and long-term implications.

The government insisted that immediate action is vital to prevent blackouts and secure energy supply in the coming months.

Source: l’Express