The solarising initiative at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius was inaugurated on 3 June 2024 by Dr the Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal,
Minister of Health and Wellness and Georges Pierre Lesjongard, Minister of Energy and Public Utilities in the presence of Mahen Kumar Seeruttun, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Naveena Ramyad, Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and
Cooperatives, Teenah Jutton, Parliamentary Private Secretary; and H.E. K. Nandini Singla, the High Commissioner of India in Mauritius, and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Health, Mauritius Development Bank, and the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
Mauritius, in line with the ISA Cares Initiative, launched in October 2020, has made significant strides in solarising its primary healthcare facilities. This initiative, aimed at solarising primary healthcare centers in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Member Countries, has not only seen Mauritius receive a substantial grant to further its clean energy goals but also brought about tangible improvements in the healthcare facilities. The Ministry of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, the Central Electricity Board, and the Development Bank of Mauritius, implemented the project promptly and efficiently, enhancing the healthcare services in the process.
Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital currently consumes 141,846 units of electricity monthly, costing approximately 1.2 million Mauritian rupees. With the newly installed solar PV panels, the hospital is set to produce 3,200 units of electricity per hour, substantially reducing its fixed electricity costs. This reduction in energy costs will enable the hospital to reallocate funds toward enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided to the public.
In 2021, Mauritius was awarded a grant of 50,000 US Dollars (approximately 2.3 million Mauritian rupees) to install around 25 kilowatts of solar panels at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. This pilot project, co-financed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Development Bank of Mauritius, has successfully installed a 26.4 kW solar rooftop system. The success of this project has not only bolstered confidence in the feasibility of replicating such initiatives across public buildings in the country but also defined the path towards 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 the collaboration. These aspects were touched upon by the Hon’ble inisters of Health and Wellness & Energy and Public Utilities in their inaugural remarks announcing the solar project’s successful completion and operationalization.
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% 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 maximizing the use of solar PV panels across all government institutions, including public health infrastructure. This initiative aligns with Mauritius’s target of achieving 60% 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.
