Key Projects of Mauritius

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Road Decongestion Programme

Contracts are currently under discussion for a government-designated programme to address traffic congestion problems along the Port-Louis–Curepipe corridor. Under the programme, a private investor will construct new roads as well as operate and manage roads already built by the government. The length of the road network under the Road Decongestion Programme will be 70 km, with the main components being Harbour Bridge and the Port Louis Ring Road. The contract for Phase 1 of the Road Decongestion Programme is expected to be awarded shortly.

 

Wind Park at Curepipe Point

Plans are currently underway for the development of a 29.4 MW wind farm at Curepipe Point, to be structured as a public–private partnership. The project includes the setting up of 33 KV transmission lines within the wind park, which will be connected to an existing pooling substation, after which the power shall be further increased to 66 KV. The project will be carried out by a special purpose vehicle made up of shareholders from the Consortium of Padgreen Co and Valum Holding BV (74 per cent) and Suzlon Energy (26 per cent).

 

Public-Private Partnerships

PPPs

In 2002 Mauritius implemented a Public–Private Partnership Scheme that defined the government’s policy on PPPs as an alternative means of financing public infrastructure and other major capital projects.

The PPP Scheme provided for the enactment of a new enabling legislation and the PPP Policy Statement, published in May 2003, set out the framework for using PPPs in Mauritius, identifying four key considerations deemed essential for delivering successful projects, namely: affordability, the legislative environment, institutional arrangements and capacity-building.

Further to this, the PPP Act 2004 (amended in 2008) provided for the implementation of PPP agreements between contracting authorities and private parties, and established a set of rules governing public–private procurement. The PPP Act establishes a PPP Unit under the chairmanship of the Policy Procurement Office. The unit is responsible for dealing with all matters relating to PPP projects.

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, through the PPP Unit, is tasked with assessing potential PPP projects on the basis of three basic principles of PPP project appraisal – affordability, value for money and appropriate risk transfer. The PPP Unit advises the government on the formulation of PPP policy and on the development of best practice guidelines and procedures in relation to PPP projects.