Mauritius wants to increase its installed power capacity. The state-owned Central Electricity Board (CEB) is launching two simultaneous tenders for the development of two solar power projects to provide 140 MW of new installed capacity. Although the capacity of the various storage systems is not yet known, the CEB says the first tender is open until June 22, 2022.
It covers the development, financing and implementation of a 100 MW solar project. The second tender is for 40 MW of capacity. Interested independent power producers (IPPs) have until June 15, 2022 to submit their bids. IPPs selected under these calls for expressions of interest will be required to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the CEB.
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The process is part of the energy policy of this Indian Ocean archipelago, located off the coast of East Africa. Mauritius wants to increase the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix to 35% by 2025. Currently, the island country has an installed capacity of 876 MW, of which 498 MW is produced by the CEB and the rest by IPPs.
Most of the electricity consumed in Mauritius is generated by oil and coal-fired power plants, according to CEB. The country also has hydroelectric facilities capable of producing 60 MW, or 4% of its electricity mix.
Jean Marie Takouleu