Mauritius is seeking investment of approximately USD 70 million to accelerate the decarbonisation of its public transport system through two flagship clean energy initiatives. The programme will electrify the National Transport Corporation fleet with 200 electric buses, supported by solar-powered charging infrastructure, solar PV installations at bus depots and battery storage systems. In parallel, photovoltaic systems will be deployed to power the national light rail network, with the objective of achieving full rail decarbonisation by 2030. The programme will reduce fossil fuel consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while strengthening energy security and reducing reliance on imported fuels. It will also enhance the sustainability and resilience of Mauritius’ transport infrastructure, improve public transport services, create green jobs, and support the country's goal of a low-carbon public transport system by 2035, contributing to broader climate and sustainable development objectives.
Project overview
Investment opportunity
Under its NDC 3.0, Mauritius envisages replacing at least 20% of its approximately 2,000-bus fleet, equivalent to around 400 buses, by 2035. It estimates a total investment requirement of USD 120 million for the deployment of 400 electric buses. The proposed 200-bus project could represent a substantial first phase, subject to confirmation of the current procurement pipeline and funding already committed. The NDC also targets 60% renewable electricity generation by 2035. Solar-powered depots and renewable electricity for rail can strengthen the emissions reduction case for transport electrification, rather than relying exclusively on grid electricity. The same incentives available to renewable energy projects will apply, except for the acquisition of electric buses.
Investment types sought
Grant Funding; Concessional Finance for Non-Sovereign Operations; Blended Finance; Strategic Partnership
Project status
Development stage
Structuring & preparation
Current status / progress to date
Complete: Deployment of 116 electric buses nationwide, demonstrating tangible progress in transport electrification.
Ongoing: Metro Express Ltd's expression of interest for on-grid solar PV systems; Government co-financing under Budget 2026-27 to solarise light rail infrastructure and bus depots over the next three years.
Pending: Mobilisation of additional financing to scale up fleet electrification, deploy solar PV and associated infrastructure, and complete the transition towards a fully green public transport system.
Additional project information
- Lead agency
- Economic Development Board / Ministry of Land Transport
Expected impact
Economic & development benefits
- Reduced operating and infrastructure costs, achieving a 20% annual operational cost saving per bus
- preserving foreign exchange through reduced reliance on fossil fuel imports
- providing long-term revenue certainty for Independent Power Producers through guaranteed pricing and contract periods under a General Guarantee Contract
- and creating green jobs in electric vehicle maintenance, charging operations, solar installation, and long-term operations and maintenance services.
Climate & resilience benefits
- Delivers combined annual emissions reductions of 29,000 tonnes of CO₂ and generates 20 GWh of renewable electricity
- supports grid decarbonisation by displacing electricity drawn from the national grid, which currently has a high emissions factor of 0.945 kgCO₂/kWh, through the use of clean solar energy for both buses and light rail
- and enhances energy independence by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, helping to protect critical transport infrastructure from geopolitical disruptions and global resource constraints.
Contact
Contact team
For more information about this project, please contact the Commonwealth Investment Platform team.