Curieuse Island, Seychelles

United Nations, with the Energy Affairs Division of Seychelles as local partner

The Marine Park Authority (MPA) was set up to manage and maintain marine parks on the island. These sites include Saint Anne Park, Curieuse, Port Launay, Cap Ternay and in the future Ile Coco (off Praslin). The MPA aims to promote sustainable tourism and the use of marine parks for fishery breeding grounds and reserves.

The MPA sites are ideal grounds to conduct renewable energy projects due to the availability of sunshine. The sun as a source of energy is free, produces virtually no by-products and is friendly to the natural environment. Solar energy generates electricity using photovoltaic cells, and solar power creates access to hot water.

The Italian Government financed the project in March 1997 and the implementation took place in January 2000. This included training the personnel from the Energy Affairs Division to size and install the photovoltaic system (PV) and solar water heaters.

Energy resources (Chapter VII of the Barbados Programme of Action)

• The need for imported petroleum oil has declined as a result of the risk of dangerous spillage during transportation between Praslin and Curieuse Islands, and the problem of handling and disposing of waste oil on the island National Park has also been reduced.
• The quality of the air has improved because of decreased burning of these petroleum fuels.
• The project improved the living standards of the park rangers living on Curieuse Island. The photovoltaic system creates better lighting in the evening hours, the ability to keep frozen food for longer periods of time and access to hot water.

The project is economically beneficial in terms of reduced energy costs. The photovoltaic and solar water heater requires little maintenance. It involves cleaning both systems and filling the lead acid batteries up with distilled water when necessary. In comparison, the cost of environmentally damaging fuel, its transportation and labor costs are much higher.

Mr. John Collie
Seychelles Marine Park Authority
P.O. Box 1240
Victoria
The Seychelles
Tel.: (248) 322-891
Fax: (248) 324-570
E-mail: mpa@seychelles.net

Mr. Andrew Jean-Louis
Director (Energy Affairs Division)
P.O. Box 648
Victoria
The Seychelles
Tel.: (248) 225-060
Fax: (248) 225-086
E-mail: energy@seychelles.net

Mr. Yvon Juliette
Senior Research Officer
P.O. Box 648
Victoria
The Seychelles
Tel.: (248) 225-060
Fax: (248) 225-086
E-mail: energy@scychelles.net
E-mail: yjuliette@yahoo.com