Energy: Rs 2.46 billion for Heavy Fuel Supply

Urgent import of heavy oil intended for the turbines of the Central Electricity Board (CEB).

The first shipment of 33,000 tons of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), secured during a recent trip to India, is expected to arrive in Port Louis on April 1.

This was announced by Patrick Assirvaden, the Minister of Energy, at a press conference on Monday, March 23.

This operation is estimated to cost 1.2 billion rupees, which is an additional expense of 500 million rupees compared to initial forecasts.

According to the minister, this supply is crucial to ensure the continuous production of electricity and to avoid any disruptions.

A second shipment of 32,000 tons has also been chartered from Singapore to meet the country’s needs. Its arrival is expected between April 14 and 16.

The cost of this operation amounts to 26.8 million US dollars, or about 1.26 billion rupees, which also represents an increase of 500 million rupees from initial estimates.

Patrick Assirvaden stated that this second order is essential to maintain a sufficient level of electricity production in the face of rising demand.

In total, the combined cost of the two shipments reaches 2.46 billion rupees. This expenditure is deemed necessary by the authorities to ensure the stability of the electrical grid.