Mauritius has built one of Africa’s more developed electricity systems, but almost all of the fuel supporting that system arrives by sea. Coal and petroleum products continue to provide most of the country’s energy, while locally available resources such as bagasse, solar power, hydropower, wind and landfill gas supply a much smaller share. This creates a difficult balance. Mauritius needs reliable electricity for tourism, industry, financial services, transport and households, yet its island geography leaves it exposed to global fuel prices and shipping risks. The country’s energy transition is therefore not only about reducing carbon emissions. It is also an attempt to improve national energy security without weakening a small and isolated power grid.
An Island Economy Built on Imported Energy
Mauritius does not have major domestic reserves of oil, natural gas or coal. Its energy system has developed around imported fossil fuels and a smaller group of local renewable resources. In 2025, imported fuels supplied more than 90% of the country’s total primary energy requirement. Petroleum products represented the largest part of those imports, followed by coal.
Electricity generation reached about 3,552 gigawatt-hours in 2025. Renewable sources produced 17.8% of that total, while non-renewable sources supplied 82.2%. These figures show the scale of the transition still required. Solar capacity has expanded, battery storage is becoming more important, and the government has announced new renewable targets. However, fossil fuels still provide the dependable output needed to balance supply and demand throughout the day.
Mauritius also operates differently from a continental electricity market. It has no transmission cable connecting it to another country. When demand rises suddenly or a major generating unit fails, the island cannot import emergency electricity from a neighboring grid. Every reserve plant, storage system and transmission project must therefore be planned within the national system.
Coal and Bagasse Share the Same Energy Story
Coal in Mauritius is closely connected to the sugar industry. Independent power producers operate plants that can burn both imported coal and bagasse, the fibrous material left after juice is removed from sugar cane. During the sugar harvest, bagasse provides renewable electricity. Outside the crop season, coal has traditionally allowed the same generating facilities to continue operating.
This arrangement helped Mauritius turn an agricultural by-product into a national energy resource. It also created one of the country’s most unusual energy relationships: renewable bagasse and imported coal are often part of the same industrial system.
Coal remains a major electricity source. In 2024, it generated approximately 39% of national electricity, up from about one-third in 2023. Coal generation reached around 1,336 gigawatt-hours, while bagasse produced about 299 gigawatt-hours. The increase in coal use contributed to higher emissions from electricity generation during the year.
Reducing coal will require more than closing a few power stations. Mauritius must replace firm electricity that can operate when required, including during the evening when solar production falls. It must also rethink long-standing agreements between the power sector and the sugar industry. Renewable biomass, cane waste, storage and flexible generation may eventually take a larger role, but they must provide dependable output rather than capacity on paper alone.
Bagasse Connects Energy Policy to Mauritian History
Sugar cane has shaped the land, economy and social history of Mauritius for centuries. Although the national economy has diversified into tourism, manufacturing, finance and information services, cane fields remain a visible part of the island’s landscape. Bagasse allows that older agricultural economy to remain connected to the modern electricity system.
Bagasse is valuable because it is produced locally. Every unit of electricity generated from cane waste reduces the need for imported fuel. It can also support sugar producers by creating another source of revenue from the crop.
However, bagasse supply depends on the size and performance of the sugar industry. The amount of land under cane cultivation has declined over time, and annual production changes with weather, costs and agricultural decisions. Bagasse generation therefore cannot expand without limits.
Mauritius has also considered a wider biomass framework using cane trash and woody biomass. This could increase the amount of renewable material available to power stations. The main challenge is to ensure that the biomass is produced sustainably, collected efficiently and priced at a level that does not make electricity unnecessarily expensive.
The future of bagasse is therefore linked to both energy and land policy. It is not simply a renewable technology. It is part of a larger decision about how Mauritius uses its limited land and how the sugar sector fits into the country’s changing economy.
Oil Keeps the Grid Stable and the Island Moving
Petroleum products are the largest part of Mauritius’s overall energy supply. Heavy fuel oil and diesel are used for electricity generation, while gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel support road transport, shipping and air travel. Kerosene-fired gas turbines can also provide electricity during periods of high demand.
Several Central Electricity Board thermal stations are located near the port area of Port Louis. This allows imported fuel to be unloaded and transported to generating facilities without crossing long distances. Port infrastructure is therefore an essential part of the national energy system.
Oil dependence extends beyond electricity. Mauritius has a large vehicle fleet, while tourism depends on international aviation and local transport. In 2024, transport represented more than half of the country’s final energy consumption. Road vehicles accounted for most land transport demand, while aviation fuel was also significant because of the island’s location and tourism-based economy.
Electric vehicles could reduce some petroleum demand, particularly because driving distances on the main island are relatively short. However, electric transport only produces a major environmental benefit when the electricity used to charge vehicles becomes cleaner. Replacing gasoline cars with electric cars while generating most electricity from coal and fuel oil shifts part of the emissions from roads to power stations.
Oil also creates an environmental risk for a country whose beaches, lagoons and marine ecosystems are central to its economy. The 2020 Wakashio oil spill demonstrated how vulnerable the coastline can be to a maritime fuel accident. Energy security in Mauritius must therefore include safe ports, fuel storage and shipping practices as well as a reliable electricity supply.
Natural Gas Remains an Option Rather Than a Major Fuel
Natural gas does not currently play a major role in Mauritius’s energy mix. The country has no domestic gas production, international pipeline or established liquefied natural gas import industry. Its thermal power system is based mainly on coal and petroleum products.
Mauritius has studied the possibility of importing liquefied natural gas for electricity generation. In theory, LNG could replace part of the coal and heavy fuel oil used by power stations. Gas-fired plants can also respond more quickly than some coal units, making them useful for balancing variable solar and wind generation.
The practical obstacles are significant. Mauritius would require an LNG import terminal, storage facilities, regasification equipment, new power plants or converted generating units, and long-term supply contracts. These investments can be expensive for a relatively small electricity market. Imported gas prices would also remain connected to global energy markets.
Natural gas could lower emissions compared with coal, but it would not solve the country’s basic dependence on imported fuel. New gas infrastructure could also operate for several decades, potentially competing with renewable energy investment. For these reasons, LNG remains a possible transition option rather than the clear foundation of Mauritius’s future power system.
The National Grid Has No External Backup
The Central Electricity Board controls much of Mauritius’s electricity generation, transmission and distribution system. It also purchases electricity from independent power producers and smaller distributed generators. As of June 2024, the country had about 882 megawatts of nominal installed capacity, divided between CEB facilities and private generators.
The CEB operates thermal stations and a group of hydroelectric plants. Independent producers contribute coal-bagasse generation, solar power and other forms of distributed electricity. This public-private structure has helped Mauritius add capacity, but it also means that power purchase agreements and long-term contracts can strongly influence the speed of change.
The grid must serve dense urban areas, hotels, commercial centers, factories, farms and residential communities across a relatively small island. Electricity demand can be affected by tourism activity, air conditioning, industrial output and changing household consumption.
More renewable power will place new pressure on the network. Large amounts of solar electricity may enter the grid around midday, while production falls rapidly in the evening. Transmission equipment, substations and control systems must manage these changes without reducing voltage or reliability.
Mauritius is investing in battery energy storage, smart meters, modern substations, network management and upgrades to older distribution equipment. A 20-megawatt grid-scale battery system was inaugurated in 2024. Storage can absorb excess renewable electricity and return it to the network when demand is higher, although it cannot yet replace all forms of firm thermal generation.
Solar Power Is the Main Area of Renewable Growth
Mauritius has strong solar resources and limited space for very large energy developments. This makes solar photovoltaic power a natural part of its transition. Solar farms, commercial systems, public-building projects and household rooftop panels can all contribute without requiring imported fuel.
Photovoltaic generation reached approximately 178 gigawatt-hours in 2024, an increase of almost 20% from the previous year. Solar was still smaller than bagasse as a source of renewable electricity, but it was the fastest-growing major renewable technology in the country.
Distributed solar has particular value because panels can be installed on hotels, warehouses, offices, schools, homes and government buildings. A public-sector renewable energy program has targeted five megawatts of solar installations across Mauritius and Rodrigues. Other programs have encouraged small and medium generators, agricultural projects and commercial users.
Land remains a central issue. Mauritius has to balance energy development with housing, agriculture, tourism, biodiversity and infrastructure. Large solar farms can compete with other uses in a densely settled country. Rooftop systems, parking-area canopies, agrivoltaics and floating solar may reduce that pressure.
The government approved plans for a floating solar project at the Tamarind Falls Reservoir in 2025. Floating panels can use existing water surfaces instead of valuable land, although they require careful environmental and technical assessment.
Solar expansion must also be matched by storage. Without batteries or other flexible resources, rapid solar growth can produce more electricity than the grid needs at midday while doing little to meet the evening peak.
Hydropower, Wind and Waste Fill Smaller Roles
Hydroelectricity has been part of the Mauritian power system for many years. The country’s hydro plants have a combined capacity of roughly 56.5 megawatts and normally provide a modest share of national production. In 2024, hydro generation increased to about 121 gigawatt-hours.
Hydropower offers useful renewable electricity, but Mauritius does not have the river systems or land area required for very large dams. Generation also changes with rainfall and reservoir conditions. Climate variability can therefore affect both electricity production and water management.
Wind power has developed more slowly than solar. Some parts of Mauritius and Rodrigues have useful wind speeds, but projects must consider cyclone exposure, land constraints, grid stability and local environmental effects. Wind generated around 14 gigawatt-hours in 2024, leaving it far behind solar, hydro and bagasse.
Landfill gas provides another small source of electricity. Gas collected from decomposing waste can be burned in generators, reducing methane emissions while producing power. Its contribution has remained limited, and generation fell in 2024. Waste-to-energy proposals could become more important, but they must fit with recycling, landfill and pollution-control policies.
None of these resources can transform the energy mix by itself. Their value comes from diversification. Hydropower, wind, waste, biomass, batteries and solar can perform different functions and reduce the pressure on any single technology.
Rodrigues Faces a More Difficult Version of the Same Problem
The Republic of Mauritius includes islands beyond the main island, and their electricity systems face even greater logistical challenges. Rodrigues has its own isolated grid and cannot exchange power with the main Mauritian network.
During the financial year ending in June 2024, fuel oil generated more than 93% of electricity in Rodrigues. Wind and solar supplied the remaining share through the Grenade wind and solar facilities, smaller installations and distributed rooftop systems.
Rodrigues shows why energy transition can be difficult on a small island. Diesel or fuel-oil generators are relatively easy to operate and can respond when demand changes. Renewable projects may lower fuel imports, but they require storage, backup capacity, suitable land and specialized maintenance. Replacement parts and technical staff may also need to travel long distances.
At the same time, small islands have a strong reason to invest in renewable energy. Imported fuel is expensive to transport, and supply can be disrupted by severe weather or shipping problems. Solar-plus-storage systems, wind power and efficient buildings can reduce this vulnerability.
Similar questions apply to other remote parts of the republic, including Agaléga. Each island needs an energy plan based on its own demand, transport links, weather conditions and ability to maintain equipment.
Nuclear Power Has No Current Role in Mauritius
Mauritius has no nuclear power stations and no active commercial nuclear construction program. Nuclear energy is unlikely to become a central part of the country’s electricity system under present conditions.
Large conventional reactors would be too large for the Mauritian grid. A single major reactor could represent an excessive share of total national capacity, creating a serious reliability problem whenever it was closed for maintenance or experienced an unplanned outage.
Nuclear development would also require a new regulatory system, trained personnel, emergency planning, waste arrangements, security infrastructure and a large financial commitment. These requirements would be difficult to justify while Mauritius still has major opportunities in solar power, storage, biomass, efficiency and grid modernization.
Small modular reactors may create new options for island systems in the longer term, but the technology remains expensive and commercially limited. Mauritius would still have to consider whether a nuclear project offered better value than renewable generation supported by batteries and flexible backup capacity.
For the foreseeable future, the Mauritius nuclear energy debate is mainly about whether future reactor technology could ever suit a small island grid, rather than about an established national nuclear program.
Energy Security Is Also Economic Policy
Mauritius’s energy dependence affects almost every major part of its economy. Tourism requires reliable electricity for hotels, airports, restaurants and transport. Manufacturing depends on stable power and predictable costs. Financial and digital services need high-quality electricity for offices, communications and data systems. Households depend increasingly on air conditioning and electrical appliances.
When world fuel prices rise, the cost can move through electricity bills, transport prices, business expenses and public finances. The country must also use foreign currency to purchase fuel. A stronger renewable sector could keep more energy spending inside the domestic economy while creating work in installation, engineering, maintenance and energy management.
However, affordability remains essential. Renewable projects, storage systems and grid upgrades require capital. Poorly designed contracts can lock consumers into high electricity prices even when the technology is environmentally attractive. Mauritius must therefore compare project costs carefully and maintain transparent competition.
Energy efficiency offers one of the least disruptive ways to improve security. Better cooling systems, building design, appliances, industrial motors and hotel operations can reduce demand without reducing economic activity. Lower demand also makes it easier for renewable sources to supply a larger share of total electricity.
Mauritius Has Moved From an Ambitious Deadline to a Longer Transition
Earlier Mauritian policy aimed to produce 60% of electricity from renewable energy and phase out coal by 2030. Progress has been slower than that ambition suggested. Renewable electricity remained below 18% in 2025, while coal use had increased sharply during the previous year.
In August 2025, the government stated a target of reaching 60% renewable energy by 2035. Moving the date back gives the country more time to develop solar projects, storage, biomass supply and grid infrastructure. It also shows the size of the gap between policy announcements and the physical reality of the electricity system.
The revised timetable should not be treated as a reason to delay investment. Power plants, batteries, substations and transmission assets take years to plan and build. Coal-bagasse contracts and aging thermal facilities also require long-term decisions.
The central question is not whether Mauritius has enough renewable resources. It is whether those resources can be converted into dependable electricity at the speed, scale and price the country needs.
The Future of Energy in Mauritius
Mauritius is likely to remain dependent on imported petroleum and coal in the near term, but the structure of its energy system is beginning to change. Solar power, batteries, distributed generation, biomass and grid modernization offer a path toward lower import dependence.
The strongest strategy will combine technologies rather than rely on one solution. Solar can provide growing daytime production. Batteries can manage short-term changes. Bagasse and other biomass can supply local generation. Hydropower, wind and landfill gas can add diversity. Efficient buildings and transport can reduce demand.
Mauritius’s energy transition will ultimately be judged by reliability as much as by renewable percentages. As an island without external grid support, it cannot replace firm power before alternatives are ready. Its challenge is to reduce coal and oil dependence while keeping electricity available to every home, hotel, factory and public service. That makes the Mauritian energy story a test of whether a small island economy can turn renewable potential into genuine energy security.