Rs 673,000 in Copper Cables Stolen from Saint-Pierre Solar Farm

A 32-year-old engineer working at a photovoltaic (solar) farm in Saint-Pierre, a town in the south of Mauritius, has filed a police report after discovering a significant theft at the site. The stolen goods — copper cables and various electrical accessories — are valued at Rs 673,000. Additional material damage to the facility is estimated at Rs 25,000, bringing the total impact of the incident to nearly Rs 700,000. According to the complaint, the theft is believed to have taken place between 15 and 28 September 2026 — a window of nearly two weeks during which the losses went undetected. **Security measures were in place — but apparently not enough** What makes the case particularly striking is that the solar farm was supposedly under close watch. Security cameras had been installed across the site, and guards were stationed there continuously. Despite these measures, the thieves managed to remove a substantial quantity of copper cabling without triggering any apparent alarm. Police have opened an investigation to determine exactly how the theft occurred and to identify those responsible. **Why copper cable theft matters** Copper theft from infrastructure sites — power lines, telecoms networks, and increasingly solar farms — is a persistent problem across many countries, including Mauritius. Copper is a high-value metal that can be sold for scrap, making it an attractive target for organised theft rings. Beyond the direct financial loss, such thefts can disrupt energy production, delay projects, and drive up operating costs for renewable energy operators. Solar farms are a growing part of Mauritius's push to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet its renewable energy targets. Incidents like this raise questions about the adequacy of physical security measures at such facilities, particularly when cameras and guards alone prove insufficient. The police investigation is ongoing. Source: ION News