Preparación ante crisis

(No. B/325) Mr O. Mahomed (Third Member for Port Louis South & Port Louis Central) asked the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities whether, since Cabinet took note, on 02 August 2013 that, under the Maurice Ile Durable Policy, Strategy and Action Plan, the contribution of renewable energy, that is, Hydro, Bagasse, Wind, Photovoltaic, Landfill Gas-to-Energy and Small Scale Distributed Generation, is estimated at 23.4% of total energy generation in 2014 and to reach 35% in 2025, he will state the projects which have been undertaken, indicating -

(a) in each case, the projected capacity thereof, and

(b) the estimated net increase in total renewable energy production in Mauritius, in terms of percentage, following the implementation thereof.

Mr Collendavelloo: I am informed by the CEB, Madam, that the following renewable energy projects have been undertaken some of them since well before 2013 -

(a) a 3 MW Landfill Gas to Energy Facility at Mare Chicose; (b) a 15 MWp PV Farm at Bambous;

(c) 3 MW Small Scale Distributed Generations, and

(d) two mini hydro power plants at Midlands dam and Nicoliere feeder canal. These projects together with the existing bagasse and hydro power plants contribute to 18% of the total energy generation mix. No new project has been implemented since I took office as I am insisting on a transparent and fair process prior to being considered.

Other Renewable Energy Projects being implemented are two wind farms which will generate 40 MW, 5 PV farms of 2 MW each and a bagasse plant at Medine to generate 11 MW.

As regards part (b) of the question, some 44 GWh of clean energy have been produced by the already commissioned renewable energy projects in 2014. This will

increase to some 106 GWh when the projects in the pipeline are fully commissioned, representing 23% of total energy generation by 2016.

To reach the target of 35% of renewable energy in 2025, new projects will have to be commissioned. As mentioned in the Government programme, we are formulating a Renewable Energy road map and setting up a Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency, the Marina.

I have to conclude that as everybody knows the impetus to renewable energy projects was initiated as a result of the 1982 Government Programme as implemented in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. These projects gained new impetus under the Government of 2000 to 2005. After 10 years of status quo save for Saraco, we are now initiating a new avant-garde project which will lead us to a quantum leap into the 21st century.

Mr Mahomed: Madam Speaker, that Cabinet decision caters for projects amounting to 70 Mega Watts. The list is here. My specific question was: how much was it before, the percentage of renewable energy before these projects meaning from bagasse and hydro and how much will it be? According to the Cabinet decision, it is 22.4 % so what is the difference in percentage that MID has brought onto the grade?

Mr Collendavelloo: I am sorry this is not how I read the question, but if you wish I will go and do the calculation and come back to you.

Mr Bérenger: The hon. Minister, I think, mentioned a new bagasse plan at Medine. Will it be a new plan and will it be produced in electricity the year through or only during the sugar crop season?

Mr Collendavelloo: Let me come back with a fresh statement on that matter.

Mr Ganoo: I would like to ask the hon. Minister a question with regard to small scale distributed generation, that is, SSDG which is, in fact, the democratisation of renewable energy. These are the projects where families should be encouraged to set up on their roof top solar panel as a source of supply of energy. Can the hon. Minister tell us what is his road map for this particular source of energy?

Mr Collendavelloo: The first step will be in the hon. Member’s Constituency.When we look at the relocation of the La Ferme squatters where we intend - I’ve already had a meeting - to try and see whether we can do a smart village in the area of Beaux Songes for these persons. I think the hon. Member is aware of this project where we will use these small scale generating units for these houses and we will have to encourage this sort of production. On the 01 of December 2014, CEB introduced a sort of levy on these small domestic

generation units. I am asking that these regulations be revoked immediately and I hope that they will be revoked very, very soon. I’ve just signed the papers this morning and this is unacceptable. We have to encourage roof top, small scale generation units because, first of all, they don’t cost much; secondly, the house owners do their own maintenance and they look after their own systems because it is theirs, it does not cost much again. We’ve got to encourage people to copy what has happened to Bagatelle, the commercial centres which are a bit larger of course, which are not small scale and try and extend them to Shoprite, Jumbo etcetera and alleviate therefore the burden which is on CEB. But we will also have to go into fiscal incentives. We shall see in the Finance Bill that there will be fiscal incentive for these household owners to take some of their money to invest in renewable energy, we need to give them fiscal alleviations. That will be the incentive.

Madam Speaker: Next question, hon. Mahomed! We’ve got to take the other questions.

Mr Mahomed: Madam Speaker, with due respect to you, can we take another question because I have just to finish off this question. One last one.

Madam Speaker: I have already said that we are passing on to the next question. You will come back some other time with another supplementary question.

Mr Mahomed: I wanted to assist the hon. Minister actually. Madam Speaker: Just take the next question!

(Interruptions)