Currently, the country imports 75% of its primary energy requirements from abroad, with petroleum imports making up 9% of that total.

According to the country’s deputy Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, “The import bill for petroleum products exceeded eight billion rupee (US$296 million) for financial year 2003/4. That figure could rise further in the next few years if we do not develop our local sources of energy [and] has resulted in an increasing demand for energy with Mauritius importing some 915 million tonnes of refined petroleum products annually.”

The country is expecting its energy requirements to grow by 5% per annum.

“Mauritius [plans] to generate electricity from wind energy, solar energy and biomass [and I invite] the private sector to help reduce energy imports dependency and invest in indigenous energy sources,” said Jugnauth.

“What we need is know-how, expertise and technology transfer,” he added.