Energy Sector: The CEB Confirms And Doubled the Albion

Selection of consultants for the construction of a dock landing some 700 000 tonnes of coal annually in the Albion areaRegardless of the objections raised in the National Energy Commission (NEC), the Central Electricity Board maintains pressure to put into operation in the next five years of two coal-fired plants with a total capacity of 200 MW Pointe-aux-Caves.

The first unit of 100 MW will be enforced on behalf of CT Power (Mauritius), while procedures for the granting of this second project will be switched according to the schedule established by the CEB in the light of the proposals contained in 'Integrated Energy Plan (2013/2022).Alongside the development of these two power plants, requiring consumption of some 2,000 tons of coal per day, CEB opts for the construction of a dock landing of coal in the area of ??Pointe-aux-Caves.

Indeed, a Request for Expression of Interest for consultancy services on coal jetty project has been launched and the closing date was set for August 14.As part of this exercise, the CEB has shot his cards over its thermal power projects in the West, especially in Albion, which can be transformed into a park for coal. In fact, besides the construction by CT Power (Mauritius) Ltd of the controversial power plant of 100 MW, the CEB persists and signs with a second 100 MW in the same region."The CEB aussi envisaging to construct a second 110 MW power plant at the same site, All which Will Increase the coal demand to about 700,000 tons in the future," says the CEB in the Request for Expression of Interest to justify technically and economically the draft coal jetty in Pointe-aux-Caves.

The proposed second coal-fired power plant of 110 MW is part of the Integrated Energy Plan developed by the CEB to meet the growth in demand for electricity in the coming years.The assumptions used by the CEB in the projections of supply and demand for electricity are contested at the National Energy Commission under the chairmanship of Dev Manraj, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister's Office. Moreover, tomorrow's meeting of the NEC will see this issue raised again.

Indeed, the CEB as CT Power (Mauritius) Ltd are in the presence of reminders to put at the disposal of that body of additional information and proven production data, consumption and the cost of production a kilowatt unit from coal.With the assumption of CEB for two coal-fired 200 MW in the same region of the west, we should expect a rise in tension between different stakeholders within the National Energy Commission and also breathed new life into the No To Coal campaign orchestrated by the Platform Sitoyen.A first indication should be available from tomorrow's meeting of the Committee Manraj.

Details of the Request for Proposal for the landing dock coal could be the point of the revival of in-depth discussions of options CEB with coal on the frontline. Under the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CT Power (Mauritius) Ltd, the CEB should honor the commitment to provide a thousand tons of coal every day this next station, 350 000 tonnes annually.

With the second plant of Pointe-aux-Caves, coal imports by the CEB should reach 700 000 tonnes. Considering the conditions imposed by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), there is no question of transport by road as a cargo of coal."Before procédure with the building of the jetty, the CEB needs to the infrastructure requirement for Assessment at the website and aussi Investigate on the MOST economical and efficient method to transporting coal to Albion," said CEB for this purpose.

The main responsibilities of consultants to prepare a feasibility study for the proposed loading dock, the preliminaries designs, detailed engineering design and tender procedures and supervision of works. The deadline for submission of expressions of interest has been set for 14 August.