Madam Speaker, I am informed by the National Land Transport Authority that under the present registration system, both non-plug-in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles are recorded under the same hybrid category. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am further informed that as per recourse of the NLTA, as at end of February 2026, there were – (a) 11,319 fully electric vehicles, including 4,820 autocycles, 15 motorcycles, 6,262 motorcars and 56 buses, 88 goods vehicles, 75 double cab pickups and 3 dual purpose vehicles, and (b) 2,209 hybrid vehicles comprising 2,208 motorcars and one dual purpose vehicle which as mentioned above, includes plug-in hybrid vehicles. In view of the increasing number of electric and hybrid vehicles, the NLTA has been requested to refine its data on vehicle registration so as to allow for a clear distinction between plug-in vehicles and conventional hybrid vehicles henceforth. Madam Speaker, with regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that as at date there are 56 electric buses registered at the NLTA and which are already in operation. Most of them are from the NTC. This number is expected to increase further with the addition of 60 more electric buses over and above the 40 already operating, donated by the Government of India to the Government of Mauritius for use by the NTC, and further five electric buses already received from the People’s Republic of China for the use by the same company, that is, the NTC, and for which we are thankful. So, from almost zero electric buses, we will have 116 buses, out of which, 105 will be for the NTC on our roads before the end of this year. So, quite a quantum leap in terms of addition to our roads. You will surely appreciate that. Furthermore, under the Bus Modernisation Programme, a financial subsidy of up to a maximum of Rs3.5 million per bus is provided to bus operators to encourage the acquisition of cleaner and more energy efficient buses, and this will go a long way towards encouraging the electrification of the bus fleet. Support is also being mobilised under the international programmes such as the Global Environment Facility which aims at promoting low carbon transport. The project will run up to September 2028 and with GEF funding, about USD5.6 million, approximately Rs260 million and my Ministry has made a request for the obtention of financial support for the procurement of charging facilities through photovoltaic panels so as to mitigate the carbon footprint in the land transport, a sizeable contributor to national emission of CO2. Madam Speaker, the measures that I have just mentioned above underline strongly the will of the Government to pursue a policy of electrification in the public transport sector with emphasis on renewable energy. This policy will further consolidate our transition towards a cleaner public transport. Furthermore, I am informed by the NLTA that electric vehicle charging facilities, which is part of the question, are currently available at 16 filling stations across the island. However, it is necessary to underline that a significant number of electric vehicles currently in use, including electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, are charged mostly at the owners’ home overnight due to the time it normally takes for a battery to be fully charged. Besides availability at filling stations, charging facilities are also provided at major shopping malls, at some restaurants and at hotel premises for the convenience of owners of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Excluding the 16 filling stations, about 60 such facilities are already in operation around the island. Madam Speaker, my Ministry is fully conscious of the need for a wider network of charging facilities to cater for the growing number of vehicles propelled fully or partly by electrical energy. Any extension of such facilities will have to be carefully considered, taking into account safety requirements at dispensing points, electricity grid capacity, space constraints at filling stations, investment implications and costs charged to vehicles per kilometre hour consumed. Another factor which may have to be considered is the constant improvement in electric vehicle technology. Madam Speaker, the range of operation of electric vehicles has almost doubled in the recent years from about an autonomy of 300 km to 500-600 km for a fully charged battery. This improvement reduces considerably the requirement for a top-up at public charging facility, particularly with daily kilometres, because we are a small island. We are 46 km in width and 65 km in length. To end, Madam Speaker, nevertheless, the NLTA will hold consultations with the Ministry of Public Utilities, the petrol supplying companies and other relevant stakeholders in order to gage the necessity for the increase in the number of charging facilities, and for coming up with a regulatory framework which will address issues of concern in my reply. Thank you.

Yes, you are okay?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the hon. Minister inform the House as to whether it is possible for him to impose a timeframe on the petrol stations, which are already providing the service to the public service vehicles and the hybrid vehicles, so as to facilitate those services?

I believe the petrol stations which are offering these facilities have problems to get customers because under the Electricity Act, no one is allowed to sell electricity without a permit. So, the filling stations charge it on time. When you do the calculations, Madam Speaker, it is as double as what you will be charging if you are doing it at home. So, that is why there are not so much of uptakes at filling stations. But then, the regulatory framework that I mentioned in my substantive reply will address this issue.

Okay. It was good! So, we have finished. Hon. Seeburn, you have another question! ELVs – REMEDIAL MEASURES & RECYCLING FACILITIES