IssuE 8 – ApRIl – JuNE 2011 - Winrock International India

Case Study
The IIPs are either firm or continuous
power producers. Both use bagasse
as the input fuel during the crop
season, however, firm producers
generated electricity all year round
by using coal when bagasse is
unavailable. Table 2 shows names of
IIPs in Mauritius.
The BEDP program coupled with the
shift to more easily available imported
coal has been successful and this can
be gauged by studying the statistics for
electricity production by source. For
e.g. the share of fuel oil for generating
electricity reduced by nearly 20% (from
58% to 35%) over a span of 10 years
from 1994 to 2003. During this period,
the use of coal to generate electricity
experienced an increase of 24%. As of
2010, the share of coal is the largest
at about 60% with bagasse and fuel
contributing nearly the same share.
Looking ahead
In October 2009, the government
of Mauritius elaborated the Long
Term Energy Strategy and Action
Plan. The plan lays emphasis on the
development of renewable energy,
reducing dependence on imported
fossil fuel and the promotion of energy
efficiency. This is in line with the
Government’s objective to promote
sustainable development in the context
of the Maurice Ile Durable vision.
Specifically for bagasse energy, the
Master Plan for Renewable Energy
has certain clear objectives. These
objectives are enumerated below:
Table 2: IIPs in Mauritius
Firm Producers
F.U.E.L.
Compagnie thermique de Belle Vue
Consolidated energy limited
Compagnie thermique du Sud
Compagnie thermique de Savannah
GWh
2750
2500
2250
2000
1750
1500
1250
1000
750
500
250
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Mauritius is committed
Electricity production by source of energy, 2000 - 2009 to progressing towards a
sustainable energy pathway.
°° Use bagasse more efficiently with a
view to increasing the contribution
of bagasse based electricity in the
medium-term from the present
level of 350 GWh to 600 GWh
annually.
°° Additional electricity from the
same amount of bagasse currently
available from the 5 millions tons
of cane can be generated by the
sugar industry through investment
in power plants operating at higher
pressure.
The country has judiciously utilized
an abundant natural resource. In terms
of environmental benefit, one of the
positive aspects of using bagasse is
its low ash content as compared to
coal. However, Mauritius needs to
be mindful of the fact that excessive
sugarcane plantation could be harmful
to soil fertility and may have negative
impacts on yield and soil. Nonetheless,
other countries should take inspiration
from this island nation and diversify
their energy mix.
°° Benefits from the use of additional
bagasse be reaped by all
stakeholders of the sugar industry
to IPP’s. Accruals from CER’s to be
passed on to the CEB.
°° Maximize the amount of energy
generated from available bagasse,
while minimizing the use of coal.
Within this framework, achieve
the target of 600 GWh of electricity
from bagasse in medium term.
°° Promote research and development
in the sector to develop new
varieties of sugar cane with higher
biomass production.
References and Further
Reading
°° http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Mauritius
°° Outline Energy Policy 2007-2025,
Government of Mauritius
°° Digest of Energy and Water
Statistics – 2009, Central Statistics
Organization, Government of
Mauritius
°° Hassen, Sayed S.Z. and Bhurtan,
C., Trends in the Power Sector in
Mauritius, Department of Electrical
and Electronic Engineering,
University of Mauritius
°° Digest of Agricultural Statistics
Continuous Producers
2009, Central Statistics Organization,
Medine
Government of Mauritius
Union St. Aubin
Mon Loisir
Diesel & Fuel oil
Bagasse
Coal
Kerosene
Hydro
°° Encourage the use of
new varieties of sugar
cane with higher biomass
content and any other
technology that would
be commercialized so as
to increase the amount of
energy generated from
bagasse.
Courtesy: Dinesh Kapur
CLC Division,Winrock International India
Email: dinesh@winrockindia.org
April-June 2011
35