Reply: Energy Security remains one of the priorities of this Government. As announced in the Government Programme 2025-2029, Government will review the energy policy of the country and implement a comprehensive energy transition programme. To this end, my Ministry is working on a new Energy Plan both for Mauritius and Rodrigues. The Plan will cater for base load as well as intermittent variable renewable energy, taking into account the growing demand in the coming years as well as the state of infrastructure. As regard to part (b)(i) of the question, I am informed by the Central Electricity Board (CEB) that the highest power demand for Mauritius was recorded on 05 February 2025 and was of the order of 567.9MW. As for the island of Rodrigues, as I indicated in my previous replies to PQ B/88 and B/89, the all-time peak demand stood at 8.97MW and was recorded on 03 February 2025 at 19 00hrs. I have stated on several occasions in this House that there has been a lack of planning in the power sector. The new Board of the CEB has conducted a review of the generation plan of CEB. It has been found that several generating units have been in operation for more than 25 years. There has been hardly any investment in renewing these units. A new Energy Plan will be elaborated to cater for energy security and the green energy transition. It will concern both Mauritius and Rodrigues. In addition to reinforcing production capacity, it is equally important to curb the increasing demand for electricity. In this context, the activities of the Energy Efficiency Management Office (EEMO), operating under my Ministry will be revamped. It will be called upon to play a more proactive role together with CEB on energy saving, energy conservation and energy efficiency. Over the past months, an aggressive national sensitisation campaign has been carried out to sensitise the public at large, including high usage consumers and hotels, on the efficient use of air conditioners and other electrical appliances. The campaign has resulted in a stabilisation of electricity consumption towards the end of February this year. This exercise will be pursued throughout the year. As regard to part (b)(ii) of the question, I am informed by the CEB that it offers a financial assistance scheme to customers of residential units of both Mauritius and Rodrigues for the installation of electric poles whereby, the new applicants are eligible for 5 spans free of charge subject to certain specific conditions being fulfilled. Further, the CEB has democratised access to its grid to enable each customer category to participate in the green energy transition by producing and selling energy to CEB at an interesting tariff. Various

166 schemes and projects are thus being implemented by the CEB and are applicable in Mauritius and Rodrigues. These schemes and projects target residential customers, commercial customers, industrial customers, Electric Vehicles owners, smart cities, public sector entities and so on. Rooftop Photovoltaics are installed free of change for eligible beneficiaries under the Home Solar Project Scheme and the Scheme for Religious Institutions, Charitable Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations. TRIOLET & BAIE DU TOMBEAU – METHADONE DISTRIBUTION – ANTI- SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS ON SITE