CEB: PRODUCTION OVERVIEW

The CEB ensures reliable and efficient electric power generation with well-maintained, safe and properly operated power plants. Mauritius has a nominal installed capacity of 847.44 MW, out of which 498.45 MW are from CEB generating units and the remaining 348.99 MW are from Independent Power Producers, Medium Scale Distributed Generators and Small Scale Distributed Generators.

Where does the power come from?

The bulk of the energy supply comes from heavy fuel oil and coal. Most of CEB’s thermal power stations are located in the vicinity of the Port Area in Port Louis on account of on-shore fuel handling facilities which are readily available for unloading of fuel. CEB uses heavy fuel oil for its base load and semi-base load power plants, and kerosene for the Gas Turbines which are primarily used for peaking periods.

Alternative sources of electricity

Mauritius has a good solar regime, with a potential average annual solar radiation value of some 6 kWh/m²/day. The wind regime is also very good in some areas, with an annual average speed of 8.1 m/s at 30 m above ground level. However, at present, the exploitation of solar and wind energy is still at the inception stage in Mauritius. Hydropower plants, with a combined installed capacity of 60 MW, contribute to some 4% of the total energy production.

The plants of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), contribute to more than 55% of power generation. They use bagasse, a by-product of the sugar industry, as fuel source during the crop season and coal during the off-crop season.

Environment monitoring of power stations

Monitoring CEB’s thermal power stations is a continuous exercise and regular Ambient Air Quality, Flue Gas emissions, noise level, and effluent discharge tests are carried out by independent accredited bodies.

Production Department

The Production Department, headed by the Production Manager, is responsible for all matters related to the generation of electricity in Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands. It comprises the Thermal, Hydro and Construction & Maintenance Sections. Both in Mauritius and Rodrigues, heavy fuel oil (HFO) is used to power base and semi-base load diesel power plants. Gas turbines running on Kerosene are used as emergency and peaking units in Mauritius whereas diesel oil driven generating sets are used for same purpose in Rodrigues. In Mauritius, renewable energy is produced by CEB from hydro facilities which is seasonal and depends on the amount of rainfall available. Whilst, in Rodrigues Island renewable energy is produced by CEB’s wind farms which is periodic and is totally dependent on wind behavior.

Mission

The mission of the Production Department is to provide reliable and efficient electric power in Mauritius and Rodrigues Islands with well-maintained, safe and properly operated generation facilities.

Objectives of the Production Department

The main objectives of the Production Department are:

To manage and operate the power plants efficiently and effectively so as to provide reliable electricity supply at the least generation cost;
To carry out regular maintenance work with a view to sustain and improve current and future reliability and availability of plants;
To address the challenges posed by obsolescence and ageing of critical equipment;
To focus on exploitation and integration of renewable energy resources;
To diversify the energy base;
To contain expenditure through reinforcement of controls at different levels; and
To operate and maintain generating sets within environmental norms.

In order to achieve the planned targets in the Production Department, the following strategies are being adopted, namely:

completion of budgeted projects within prescribed time frame and costs;
construction of new power plants and purchase of new generating sets to replace old inefficient ones and also to cater for soaring demand in electricity;
maintenance of equipment in the best operating conditions;
optimization of the output generating capacity of the generating sets;
proper maintenance of assets and prevention of major breakdowns or abnormal occurrences; and
provide training and development to cope with modern technologies and stringent environmental requirements.

The Production Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of CEB’s four Thermal and ten Hydro-electric power stations in Mauritius which produces 44% of the total electrical energy requirement of the island. It is also responsible for two thermal power stations and two wind farms in Rodrigues which provide total electrical energy requirement of the island.

Furthermore, the Production Department operates and maintains two Heavy Fuel Oil Tank Farms located at Les Grandes Salines and Fort William Depot respectively. These Tank Farms are crucial since they provide all the required logistics to store Heavy Fuel Oil which is, thereafter, pumped for use at St Louis and Fort Victoria Power Stations. Moreover, Heavy Fuel Oil, from these two Tank Farms, is bunkered on vessels Mauritius Trochetia and MV Anna for conveyance to Rodrigues Island where it is stored in the two tank farms, of total storage capacity 3,925 m³, located at both Pointe Monnier and Port Mathurin Power Stations. This heavy fuel oil is used to power the two thermal power stations.

In Mauritius, the total installed capacity of generating units in CEB power plants is 498.5 MW with a total asset value of approximately MUR 14 billion and a labour force of around 410 employees. The total installed capacity, in Rodrigues, is 13.58 MW with a labour force of around 56 employees.

The tables below indicate CEB’s production of electricity in Mauritius and Rodrigues for the period January 2017 to December 2017. All figures given are as at 31 December 2017.

Mauritius

Rodrigues Island

The Generation mix, in Mauritius, as at December 2017 is given in the chart below.

The CEB Thermal Power Stations in Mauritius are detailed out in the chart below: