In 2023, Mauritius relied on fossil fuels for about 83% of its electricity consumption, with coal alone supplying roughly a third. Low-carbon sources provided the remaining 17%: biofuels accounted for about 10%, solar for nearly 5%, and hydropower for around 3%. This leaves considerable scope to expand clean electricity, especially solar, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and air pollution.

Is Electricity Growing in Mauritius?

Electricity consumption in Mauritius is growing, but only modestly. In 2023, consumption reached 2,568 kWh per person, exceeding the previous record of 2,511 kWh in 2019 by roughly 56 kWh per person, or about 2%. However, low-carbon electricity generation stood at 448 kWh per person—98 kWh below its 2020 record of 546 kWh, a decline of about 18%. The new consumption record is encouraging, but the shortfall in clean generation is concerning: Mauritius needs stronger electricity growth, particularly from low-carbon sources, to support electrification and future demand, including from AI.

Suggestions

Mauritius could prioritize a substantial expansion of solar electricity, drawing lessons from other island regions. Solar supplies about 23% of electricity in both Cyprus and the US state of Hawaii, compared with only about 5% in Mauritius; Sri Lanka also offers a relevant example at 15%. Rooftop installations, larger solar projects, storage, and grid improvements could help translate these examples into local progress. Wind deserves consideration too: the island country of Cape Verde generates about 14% of its electricity from wind. Mauritius should also consider nuclear electricity as part of its long-term clean electricity strategy, learning from France and Slovakia, where nuclear supplies roughly two-thirds of generation, and examining approaches suited to its own electricity system.

History

Historically, Mauritius’s low-carbon electricity growth has been uneven. Hydropower fluctuated during the 1980s and 1990s, with decreases of about 0.1 TWh in 1983, 1990, and 1999, and increases of similar size in 1985 and 1995. Biofuels generation rose by about 0.1 TWh in both 1990 and 1998, followed in 2000 by increases of roughly 0.1 TWh each from biofuels and hydropower. During the 2010s, biofuels rose in 2010 and 2015 but fell in 2011, while solar added about 0.1 TWh in 2019—an encouraging step toward a more diversified clean electricity supply. Biofuels subsequently declined by about 0.1 TWh in both 2020 and 2022, and hydropower showed no change at the reported precision in 2023, underscoring the need for sustained new low-carbon generation.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade