Mauritius Water Tank Grant Scheme Stalls as Suppliers Pull Out

Mauritius is facing a deepening water supply crisis, and a government-backed subsidy programme designed to help households cope is now running into serious trouble. Two more suppliers have suspended their participation in the Water Tank Grant Scheme, administered by the Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM), following an earlier withdrawal by Resiglas.

Nabridas, one of the scheme's registered suppliers, has announced it can no longer accept new applications until further notice. The company cited temporary constraints on its production capacity for 500-litre and 1,000-litre water storage tanks. With demand surging as the water crisis intensifies, the manufacturer says it simply cannot keep up.

Duraco Ltd has also announced a temporary suspension of new applications. Its withdrawal comes amid a separate controversy over additional charges that some beneficiaries of the scheme have reportedly been asked to pay on top of the subsidy. Duraco has asked its business partners to flag any subsidy vouchers already in their possession so that arrangements can be made to collect them.

A third retailer, Quincaillerie P. Soogumbur, has informed its customers that it is no longer accepting DBM offers for tanks or pumps, pending fresh guidance from Duraco and its other suppliers.

The Water Tank Grant Scheme is a programme through which the DBM, a state-owned development finance institution, subsidises the purchase of water storage tanks and pumps for Mauritian households. It was introduced to help residents manage water shortages by storing water during periods of supply. Applicants typically register through approved suppliers and receive a grant that reduces the out-of-pocket cost of buying a tank or pump.

The simultaneous withdrawal of Resiglas, Nabridas and Duraco, three of the programme's key participating companies, means that many households who had been counting on the subsidy now have no clear route to access it. There is no confirmed timeline for when any of the three suppliers will resume accepting applications.

What this means: If you were planning to use the DBM Water Tank Grant Scheme to buy a storage tank or pump, you may need to wait before applying through one of these suppliers. It is worth contacting the DBM directly or checking with other registered suppliers to find out whether alternative options remain available. The situation is fluid, and further updates from the suppliers or the DBM are expected. In the meantime, households affected by water rationing in Mauritius will need to make other arrangements for water storage.

Source: ION News