China supports Mauritius in its low-carbon future efforts through the signature of a Donation Agreement

The signing ceremony of a Donation Agreement for a 20 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) between the Republic of Mauritius and the People's Republic of China was held, yesterday, at the seat of the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, in Port Louis.

The signatories were the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, Mr Patrick Gervais Assirvaden, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Mauritius, Dr Huang Shifang. Government officials as well as heads of organisations and parastatal bodies falling under the purview of the Ministry and other personalities were present at the event.

At the outset, the Minister of Energy and Public Utilities expressed his gratitude to the Government of the People's Republic of China for the generous donation which, he underlined, reflected the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. “This battery energy storage system, with a capacity of 20 MW, represents far more than a piece of equipment; it is a strategic investment of approximately Rs 1 billion that will strengthen the stability and flexibility of our electricity network,” underlined Mr Assirvaden.

The Minister explained that this 20MW BESS would add up to the two other BESS being procured. He affirmed that in the very short term, 60 MW of battery storage capacity would be added to the national electricity network, thereby improving grid stability, enhancing the quality and reliability of electricity supply, and providing the Central Electricity Board (CEB) with greater operational flexibility in responding to fluctuations in demand. This initiative would play a critical role in managing peak electricity demand, particularly between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., when electricity consumption would reach its highest levels during the summer season, he stated.

According to Mr Assirvaden, the project complemented the numerous initiatives undertaken by the Government to accelerate the energy transition, strengthen energy security, and build a more modern, cleaner, and more resilient electricity system. “It is also fully aligned with our national campaign promoting energy efficiency,” he said.

Furthermore, the contribution of the People’s Republic of China in assisting Mauritius in improving the performance of its electricity system was highlighted by the Minister. He informed that at the request of the Ministry, the Chinese authorities were organising a seminar from 29 July to 11 August in Chengdu on New Energy Application and Development for some 15 participants from relevant Mauritian organisations and institutions.

The objectives of the seminar are to share experiences and knowledge on China's new energy policies, introduce participants to solar photovoltaic technologies and their development, explore emerging energy storage technologies, and promote the sustainable development of new and renewable energy sources.

For her part, the Chinese Ambassador underscored that the signature of the donation agreement marked an important step and laid the critical foundation for the subsequent implementation of the project. She stated that China was one of the leading countries in green energy and was willing to share the technology, expertise and experience to support Mauritius in achieving the transition towards a greener and more sustainable future.

While thanking the various stakeholders and ministries for their long-term support and efforts to the bilateral cooperation between China and Mauritius, the Chinese Ambassador looked forward to further enhancing the collaboration between the two countries and working together for more positive outcomes.

31 July 2026

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Topics: Energy, Bilateral cooperation