Mauritius Power Crisis: Businesses Switch Gears to Beat Peak Time Blackouts

Mauritian businesses are urgently changing their operations, adopting energy efficiency and backup power solutions to mitigate the strain on the national electricity grid following recent supply tensions, according to a major industry body.

Business Mauritius has called on companies to take concrete measures to reduce consumption, particularly during peak hours, after an episode on October 15th was identified as a critical moment for electricity supply.

Amandine Hardowar de Rosnay, Head of Sustainability & Inclusive Growth at Business Mauritius, warned that such situations are “doubtless not isolated” and necessitate a collective adaptation to a more constrained energy reality.

Immediate Action and Demand Management

In response, sectors including hotels, construction sites, and manufacturing are adapting activities and optimising energy usage to secure the grid and ensure business continuity.

Business Mauritius, in coordination with the Central Electricity Board (CEB), had already held a September workshop on demand management.

Recommendations implemented to limit the impact of the October 15th event—and avoid load shedding—included:

• Reducing non-essential energy use between 6pm and 9pm.
• Shifting the most energy-intensive activities outside of peak consumption periods.
• Better optimisation of air conditioning and lighting.

The CEB has put in place a graduated alert system which saved 12 to 15 MW during the last alert. Dr. Khalil Elahee, President of the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency (MARENA), emphasised that the current “red alert” is a precautionary measure to mobilise stakeholders and avoid the system reaching a critical point, particularly ahead of summer when demand can surge due to heat and sustained economic activity.

Long-Term Resilience and Self-Production

Beyond immediate adjustments, Business Mauritius is advocating for a medium to long-term vision, including encouraging more businesses to adopt self-production and integrate renewable energy.

• Sectors such as tourism, agro-industry, and certain manufacturing firms are already embracing this transition.
• The goal is to expand these initiatives by facilitating access to investment, storage, and energy efficiency technology.
• Ultimately, the aim is to build an economic base less reliant on fossil fuels and better prepared for supply fluctuations.

Government and Industry Schemes

The transition is being supported by collaborative efforts and official schemes:

• Carbon Neutral Industrial Sector (CNIS) Renewable Energy Scheme: Launched in January 2023, this scheme allows industrial businesses to generate their own power from renewable sources (excluding sugar and energy sectors) and sell it to the CEB. Seventeen large consumers (over 2MW) have applied, totalling about 110 MW of capacity, alongside approximately 80 smaller consumers (under 2MW) contributing about 40 MW.
• Demand Response Programme (DRP) 2025: The CEB is calling on commercial and industrial clients with demand over 200 kW to register for this programme. It offers financial compensation for temporarily disconnecting from the grid during critical hours to ease overall demand.
• The CEB also recommends the long-term alternative of installing solar photovoltaic panels, ideally paired with battery storage, with new specific plans for industries expected soon.

Sector-Specific Responses

Energy consumption is highest in the industrial sector, followed by hotels and large commercial centres. Specific sectors have highlighted their measures and concerns:

• Hospitality: Hotel group Sunlife has assured continuity of operations with fully maintained backup generators capable of meeting all energy needs. The group has committed to switching to generators when the CEB deems it necessary and has implemented plans to reduce consumption during peak hours.
• Construction: The sector relies heavily on electricity for cranes, concrete mixers, and pumps. Businesses are using backup generators, though Ravi Gutty, President of the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association, suggested these are temporary fixes, advocating for long-term “hybrid solutions” like solar power for lighting or certain equipment. He stressed that unplanned cuts cause delays, loss of productivity, and risk compromising the quality of work.
• ICT: The Outsourcing and Telecommunications Association of Mauritius (OTAM) confirmed that operating sites are equipped with generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure continuity during temporary outages, and the sector responded to the call to minimise electricity use.
• SMEs: The SME Chambers noted that smaller businesses, particularly in textiles, were not greatly affected by the avoided power cuts, but temporary interruptions can damage sensitive machinery. President Ajay Beedassy stated that SMEs “do not have the means to take the provisions” needed to fully adapt.

Source: Defi Media