Panafrican News Agency

Mauritius: Mauritius moves to harness green energy from the ocean

Ebene, Mauritius (PANA) – Mauritian Energy and Public Utilities Minister Ivan Collendavelloo on Friday said that Mauritius has steadily progressed in its mission of developing wave energy and is poised to gain considerably in the future by securing sustainable, replicable and economically-viable sources of energy.

Speaking at a workshop focusing on the study on High Penetration Renewable energy roadmap, wave resource assessment and wave-integrated micro grid design in Mauritius, Mr Collendavelloo reiterated the willingness of Government to meet the environmental sustainability targets of the 2030 Millennium Development Goals.

“Government is perennially focused on reducing the ecological footprint. In this regard several green projects banking on wave, solar and wind energy sources, have already been endorsed,” he emphasised.

For his part, Ocean Economy Minister Premdut Koonjoo highlighted that Mauritius, with a total area of 2.3 million square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone, is geographically well positioned to harness ocean energy, in the form of offshore wind, ocean wave, ocean current, ocean thermal and ocean saline energy.

“This project will enable the island to achieve its energy security and in the long run help to exceed the expected target of generating 35% of electricity production from renewable energies. The Clean energy project aiming at creating a sustainable energy system will also ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean”, Mr Koonjoo underlined.

One official from the Ocean Economy Ministry said the study is a joint initiative of the Mauritius Research Council and the Australian Wave Energy Developer Carnegie Wave Energy aimed at exploring the prospects of developing wave energy and harnessing the potentials of ocean energy in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

A roadmap for Mauritius, spreading over to 2025 and sets a target of generating 35% of renewable energy from the ocean, was presented at the workshop.
-0- PANA NA/VAO 26May2017