USTDA GRANT TO CENTRAL ELECTRICITY BOARD SIGNED

UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000151


DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/EPS, AND EB/CBA
DEPT PLEASE PASS TDA FOR PAUL MARIN
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR PATRICK COLEMAN
DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR 4510/ITA/IEP/ANESA/OA/JED DIAMOND
JOHANNESBURG FOR FCS AND TDA


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD EINV ECON PGOV USTR MP
SUBJECT: USTDA GRANT TO CENTRAL ELECTRICITY BOARD SIGNED


1. On May 14, Embassy Charge d'Affaires, Virginia Blaser, and the
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Renewable Energy and Public
Utilities, Dr. Rashid Beebeejaun, signed a Grant Agreement whereby
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) will provide $325,000 to
the Central Electricity Board (CEB) to finance a feasibility study
on the proposed CEB Transmission Grid and Transformer Network
Monitoring System Project in Mauritius. The main objective of the
project is to support the GOM's efforts to improve the efficiency of
the country's power transmission and distribution grid.


2. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of
Renewable Energy, CEB executives and Board members, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs' Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Chief of Protocol,
as well as other senior government officials and chief executives of
public utilities. Representatives of both the electronic and print
media were present. The event will be covered by the national T.V.
during the evening news and we expect detailed reports in the press
tomorrow and in the coming days. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked
the U.S. Government for this assistance, highlighted the importance
of the project, and promised prompt action on the recommendations of
the study.


3. One original copy of the signed agreement will be sent to USTDA
headquarters via express courier.


BLASER