Mauritius inaugurates solar initiative at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital

Government collaboration with ISA drives solar panel installation, reducing hospital costs and boosting renewable energy goals.

The solarisation initiative at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius was inaugurated on 3 June 2024 by Dr. the Hon. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, Minister of Health and Wellness, and Hon. Georges Pierre Lesjongard, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities, in the presence of Hon. Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security; Hon. Naveena Ramyad, Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives; Hon. Teenah Jutton, Parliamentary Private Secretary; and H.E. K. Nandini Singla, the High Commissioner of India in Mauritius, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Health, Mauritius Development Bank, and the International Solar Alliance.

In line with the ISA Cares Initiative launched in October 2020, Mauritius has made significant progress in solarising its primary healthcare facilities. This initiative aims to solarise primary health care centres in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Member Countries. Mauritius received a substantial grant to advance its clean energy goals and witnessed tangible improvements in healthcare facilities. The Ministry of Health and Wellness collaborated effectively with the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, the Central Electricity Board, and the Development Bank of Mauritius to promptly implement the project, thereby enhancing healthcare services.

Currently, Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital consumes 141,846 units of electricity monthly, costing approximately 1.2 million Mauritian rupees. With the newly installed solar PV panels, the hospital is expected to generate 3,200 units of electricity per hour, significantly reducing its fixed electricity costs. This reduction will allow the hospital to redirect funds toward improving healthcare service quality for the public.

In 2021, Mauritius was granted 50,000 US Dollars (approximately 2.3 million Mauritian rupees) to install about 25 kilowatts of solar panels at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. This pilot project, jointly financed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Development Bank of Mauritius, successfully implemented a 26.4 kW solar rooftop system. The success of this initiative not only boosted confidence in replicating such projects across public buildings and paved the way for a sustainable and brighter future for all Mauritians. The formal grant agreement between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the International Solar Alliance was signed on October 31, 2023, marking a significant milestone in this collaboration. These achievements were highlighted by the Hon’ble Ministers of Health and Wellness and Energy and Public Utilities during their inaugural remarks on the successful completion and operationalisation of the solar project.

Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA, noted, “This initiative highlights Mauritius’s commitment to renewable energy and the successful implementation of solar technology in public health infrastructure, showcasing the country’s progress towards sustainable energy solutions. Floating solar, agro-photovoltaics, and rooftop solar are innovative solutions that can enhance earnings for the Mauritian people, provide new jobs, and help the government secure its goal of generating 60 percent of its electricity by 2030 with solar. My congratulations to the government and the people of Mauritius. ISA remains a steadfast partner in Mauritius’s clean energy transition journey, enthusiastically supporting the nation’s efforts to meet its renewable energy goals by 2030.”

In the long term, the Mauritian government is committed to maximising the use of solar PV panels across all government institutions, including public health infrastructure. This initiative is aligned with Mauritius’s target of achieving 60 percent renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030. The maturity and viability of rooftop solar technology make it a pivotal solution for increasing solar energy penetration in Mauritius.