Mauritius Signs MoU with UAE to Advance Renewable Energy

Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an MOU in the fields of water, sanitation and energy during a virtual signing ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.

Minister Gobin delivered the welcome remarks and emphasised that the MOU marks the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations. He highlighted that under this agreement, Mauritius will leverage the UAE’s expertise in renewable energy and water resource management. The UAE has positioned itself as a global frontrunner in the transition to renewable energy through its adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

The MOU will create new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in various areas including green energy, hydrogen and derivatives, LNG, water resources management, desalination, waste water and sanitation, amongst others.

The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure commended Mauritius for its ambition to develop renewable energy capabilities and expressed that his country is prepared to support the energy transition and sustainable development strategy. He underlined the UAE Government’s commitment to facilitating government-to-government collaboration, as well as facilitating private sector investments in these areas.

Minister Lesjongard, for his part, said the national strategy is to enhance energy security by progressively transitioning to cleaner energy sources, increasing the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix, and implementing energy-efficient technologies.

Government has set ambitious targets to achieve 60% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 and to completely phase out coal use by the same deadline.

Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, Mauritius is facing frequent periods of prolonged drought and flash floods, which threaten water security and significantly impact the agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors.

In response, it is imperative for the country to become more resilient to changing rainfall patterns. This resilience strategy includes adopting technologies such as desalination in drier, coastal regions, and constructing new reservoirs and dams to secure water resources.

Last year, the two countries concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, poised to meaningfully elevate the bilateral economic relations. The UAE is a development partner for Mauritius. Its current support to the country’s socio-economic development include the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development's grant of USD 21 million for the construction of a new Eye Hospital, and a concessionary loan to the Central Electricity Board to finance the deployment of Solar Photovoltaic kits in Mauritius.