Solar Farm Inaugurated at Poudre d'Or: Advancing Mauritius’ Renewable Energy Transition

A major milestone in Mauritius’ transition towards a low-carbon and energy-resilient future was marked yesterday with the inauguration of OmniPV1, an innovative agrivoltaic solar farm located at Poudre d’Or.

Developed through a strategic partnership between Omnicane Ltd, the Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB), and Calycé International under Omnicane-Calycé JV Ltd, the project integrates renewable energy generation with sustainable agricultural land use, demonstrating how clean energy, agriculture, finance and sustainability can be combined within a single development model.

The 4.8 MWp solar farm, established across four hectares of land, is expected to generate approximately 7,700 MWh of clean electricity annually while contributing to the avoidance of around 6,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Designed as an integrated turnkey decarbonisation solution for corporate clients, OmniPV1 supports Mauritius’ national renewable energy and climate objectives while promoting productive dual land use through agrivoltaics involving local farmers and food crop cultivation. The project also contributes to five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, namely Zero Hunger, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Climate Action and Life on Land.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell; the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad; Members of the National Assembly, Messrs Nitish Sharma Beejan and Rameshwar Etwareea; the Chief Executive Officer of Omnicane Ltd, Mr Jacques M. d’Unienville; the Chief Executive Officer of MCB Ltd, Mr Thierry Hébraud; and the Co-founder and President of Calycé, Mr Éric Boban, alongside other guests and stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

In his address, Minister Boolell underscored the strategic importance of energy security in supporting Mauritius’ economic development and resilience. He highlighted the need for stronger public-private collaboration to accelerate renewable energy deployment and ensure a reliable electricity supply. He also stressed the importance of maximising local resources, particularly biomass and bagasse, as part of a broader national strategy to reduce dependence on imported energy sources and strengthen the country’s energy independence. The Minister further emphasised the role of complementary solutions such as energy storage to address the intermittency of renewable sources, while noting ongoing initiatives by the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute in smart energy development.

Mr Hébraud highlighted that OmniPV1 represents a concrete milestone in the MCB Group’s commitment to accelerating Mauritius’ energy transition through sustainable finance and strategic partnerships. He noted that the project, financed through a green bond structured by MCB Capital Markets, reflects MCB’s belief in finance as a catalyst for environmental transformation, while contributing to the reduction of the Group’s carbon footprint and supporting scalable renewable energy solutions in Mauritius and the region.

As for Mr d’Unienville, he emphasised that OmniPV1 reflects Omnicane’s long-term commitment to diversifying its energy portfolio while actively contributing to Mauritius’ transition towards a more resilient and sustainable energy system. He highlighted that, beyond its 4.8 MWp installed capacity, the solar farm will generate approximately 7,700 MWh of electricity annually, enough to power around 3,400 Mauritian households, thereby strengthening national energy security while optimising the productive use of agricultural land through its agrivoltaic design.

05 June 2026

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Topics: Energy, Innovation