35 per cent of the green energy by 2025 in Mauritius

By 2025, the Mauritian government plans to produce 35 per cent of the energy consumed from renewable sources.

This was stated by Deva Virahsawmy, minister of Environment and Sustainable Development at a conference held at his ministry on Thursday.

Last week, the green paper prepared by professor Francois Odendaal was submitted to the Cabinet.

“The Maurice Ile Durable (MID) project will not only consider the preservation of the environment but will also gear towards energy conservation, reducing the country’s carbon footprint and encouraging ecological businesses and sustainable economic growth,” said the minister.

With regards to the project of building eight eco-villages, he said that for now two will be built namely at Pointe aux Piments and Panchavati.

Nine villages, namely Pointe aux Piments, Panchavati, Vieux Grand Port, Vuillemin, La Gaulette / Le Morne, Poudre d’Or, Clémencia, Souillac and Rivière Coco in Rodrigues have been chosen for the same.

“We want to change the concept of villages through this project. It aims at sustaining the tourism industry, creating green jobs, improving quality of life and facilitating community self-reliance,” he said.

The project also comprises upgrading the physical environment, promotion of waste segregation and the use of renewable energy for lighting and heating purposes and protection and conservation of biodiversity.

Osman Mohamed, president of MID Steering Committee said that the green paper was adopted last week.

“The first part is vision, then comes the policy and strategy, and then action plan. The government will focus more on the action plan,” the minister said.

He added, “Before the end of this year we will have the policy and strategy.”