Mauritius and Seychelles Discuss Public Transport Electrification Strategy

A delegation led by Seychelles' Minister of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Véronique Laporte, met with the Minister of Land Transport, Osman Mahomed, on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the ministry's headquarters in Port Louis. The aim of the meeting was to present Seychelles' delegation with the progress Mauritius has made in implementing its strategy and roadmap for public transport electrification.

In a statement, Osman Mahomed emphasized that Mauritius is steadily advancing in the adoption of electric buses, marking an important milestone towards a cleaner and more sustainable public transport system, despite the challenges faced. He pointed out that through careful planning and ongoing investments in renewable energy solutions for recharging electric buses, the electric bus program is set to transform public transport in Mauritius.

He addressed the main challenges facing the land transport sector, particularly the continuous increase in the number of vehicles on the country's roads each year. In this context, he highlighted that the government has implemented a tax regime aimed at curbing the growth of the vehicle fleet to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents.

The Minister of Land Transport also mentioned the penalty points system, which will come into effect on January 31, 2026, stressing that road safety remains a top priority for the government. He expressed confidence that this measure will help reduce road accidents and promote more responsible driving behavior.

Ms. Véronique Laporte stated that the Seychelles government plans to introduce 250 electric buses over a five-year period as part of its broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and modernize public transport. She noted that Mauritius serves as a valuable example to follow, as the country has already begun implementing an electric bus system.

Moreover, she highlighted the key concerns facing Seychelles in this transition, including the capacity of the national electricity grid to support large-scale recharging, especially during peak hours, as well as the establishment of a reliable and efficient charging infrastructure. The Seychellois minister also pointed out that the geographical features of Seychelles, including mountainous terrain and narrow road networks, pose operational challenges, reinforcing the importance of learning from Mauritius's experience in this area.