Energy is an increasingly strategic issue for the Indian Ocean and East Africa, as geopolitical volatility, climate pressure and rising industrial demand push businesses and economies to secure supply while accelerating their energy transition. In this context, IBL Energy is building a regional platform in power generation, energy efficiency, electric mobility and waste-to-value projects.
Since 2020, IBL Energy has supported industrial and commercial clients in Mauritius and across the region in their energy transition. From the outset, the company positioned itself around industrial and commercial clients, in line with IBL’s core activities. “We mainly focus on clients who share the same DNA as IBL Group. The solutions we offer have first been tested and approved internally,” explains Pierre Egot, Chief Operating Officer of IBL Energy.
While solar photovoltaic energy naturally became a key pillar of its development, the company quickly broadened its approach by integrating another essential dimension: energy efficiency. “We developed real-time energy audit and management services. These tools help businesses better understand, manage and optimise their energy consumption.” This expertise allows companies to anticipate their needs and reduce peak demand, particularly during high-consumption periods. The result is twofold: lower operating costs and reduced pressure on the national grid.
In the same vein, IBL Energy has invested in photovoltaic infrastructure through partnerships with industrial players. In Mauritius, two major projects stand out: SeaBrew Solar (15 MW), developed with Phoenix Beverages, Froid des Mascareignes and Marine Biotechnology Products; and Basalt Solar (10 MW), developed in partnership with UBP. Beyond their environmental contribution, these projects also carry strategic economic importance for the country. “The electricity produced is purchased by the Central Electricity Board in rupees, which helps limit the country’s reliance on foreign currency,” Pierre Egot points out.
Beyond energy production itself, IBL Energy is also investing in the infrastructure needed to support evolving energy usage through long-term strategic partnerships and innovative projects. In 2023, for instance, the country’s first electric vehicle charging network was launched in partnership with Vivo Energy. Now comprising 26 charging stations, the network named E-motion is helping accelerate electric mobility across Mauritius.
That same year also marked the operational launch of Énergie des Mascareignes, developed in partnership with Green Create Holdings Ltd. The project transforms industrial effluents, mainly from Princes Tuna Ltd and Marine Biotechnology Ltd, into biogas and biofertilisers while also treating wastewater. Unique in the region, the facility operates on a circular model and has the capacity to process effluents from other sectors, including agro-industry.
This strategy extends well beyond Mauritius. IBL Energy is gradually expanding regionally, with a particular focus on East Africa, where businesses face growing demand for reliable energy solutions. Since March 2023, IBL Energy, alongside impact investment fund Stoa and Inspired Evolution, has become a majority shareholder in Equator Energy, the leading commercial and industrial solar provider in the region, with around 150 photovoltaic installations across Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Today, IBL Energy is entering a new phase of development with a new identity, soon to be unveiled, to clarify its value proposition. Behind this transformation lies a clear ambition: supporting businesses through their energy transition while helping shape the energy infrastructure of tomorrow across the region.
