Mauritius CEB Plans 675 MW Capacity to Meet 2027 Summer Peak

Mauritius's Central Electricity Board, known as the CEB, is preparing for the country's summer electricity peak in 2027 with a planned production capacity of 675 megawatts. That figure sits comfortably above the projected peak demand of between 600 and 610 megawatts, giving the national grid a buffer of roughly 65 to 75 megawatts at the most critical point of the year.

Summer in Mauritius, which runs from roughly November through April, is traditionally the period when electricity consumption surges. Air conditioning, tourism activity and industrial output all push demand higher, placing the most strain on the island's power infrastructure. The CEB, the state-owned utility responsible for generating, transmitting and distributing electricity across Mauritius and Rodrigues, must plan its capacity well in advance to avoid shortfalls.

To help meet this demand, three new solar photovoltaic projects are expected to come online and add approximately 9 megawatts to the national grid. While this is a step in the right direction for Mauritius's renewable energy ambitions, it remains a modest contribution relative to the total capacity picture.

The announcement has drawn criticism from Nita Deerpalsing, a prominent political figure and former member of parliament, who has spoken out about what she sees as persistent delays in developing renewable energy in Mauritius. Deerpalsing has argued that the country should be moving much faster to build out its solar, wind and other clean energy sources, reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels that make electricity both expensive and environmentally costly.

Mauritius currently depends heavily on coal, oil and diesel for its electricity generation, leaving it exposed to global fuel price swings. The government has set targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the national energy mix, but progress has been slower than many energy advocates and opposition voices have called for.

The CEB's forward planning for 2027 reflects a standard engineering practice of maintaining a reserve margin above forecast peak demand. A buffer of 10 to 15 percent above peak is considered prudent to account for unexpected outages, equipment failures or demand spikes caused by unusually hot weather.

What this means: For ordinary Mauritian households and businesses, the immediate practical implication is that the country should have enough electricity to avoid blackouts or load-shedding during the 2027 summer period. However, the broader debate is about the long-term cost and sustainability of that electricity. If more capacity comes from renewable sources, it reduces the country's fuel import bill and helps meet its climate commitments. The pace of that transition remains the central question that the CEB's planning figures alone do not fully answer.

Source: Le Defi Media