Sustainable Development in the Public sector

Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP)

Lead Agency: Procurement Policy Office, Ministry of Finance & Economic Development

Rationale: The public procurement expenditure in Mauritius contributes to a significant share of more than 15% of the national GDP. Our public procurement disposes of a major potential to shift to more sustainable production patterns, through sustainable government consumption itself, but also through governments’ role-setting for the private sector, and through the creation of new markets for sustainable products. The Government of Mauritius is committed to lead by example by embracing and pursuing sustainable public procurement.

From 2008, the Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement is assisting Mauritius in developing an SPP policy and implementing it.

 

Several Ministries have already initiated some green procurement initiatives through the installation of CFL lamps in government buildings and in street lighting, the replacement of traffic lights by LED and the provision of solar water heater systems for some hospitals.

Progress:
• Implementation has started since February 2009, with the visit of a UNEP Consultant and the setting up of a steering committee at the level of the Procurement Policy Office of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to monitor the progress of implementation of the project.

 

• The procurement status of Mauritius has been assessed and research has been carried out to identify the legal framework for procurement in Mauritius and the legal possibilities to integrate SPP principles. A study on “Market Readiness Analysis” has been carried out by a national consultant to find out which sectors in Mauritius could offer opportunities for improvement an innovation

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• The Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) Policy and Action Plan for Mauritius has been prepared. It promotes and helps to achieve sustainable public procurement in accordance with Government’s policy statement and in the following five themes: People; Policy, Strategy and Communication; Procurement Process; Supplier Engagement; and Monitoring and Reporting. The following seven products/services that the action plan will focus on in the next five years have been selected as follows: 1) Paper and Printing; 2) IT Devices; 3) Cleaning Products and Services; 4) Office and Classroom Furniture; 5) Vehicles; 6) Food and Catering Services and 7) Construction work.

 

Benefits to be derived:
By implementing the project, the public sector can show leadership by encouraging resource efficiency, the production of sustainable products and enhance corporate social responsibility.

Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings

Projects:

(i) Phasing out of Incandescent Lamps
(ii) Monitoring Energy Use and Performance in the Public Sector including Annual Reporting and Information exchange
(iii) Use of energy efficient lighting in Public Bodies

Lead Agency: Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities

 

Rationale: The use of incandescent lamps is widespread in the country, due essentially to its relatively low price compared to energy efficient lamps and its easy availability. However, such lamps are very inefficient and represent a significant load on the CEB electricity grid. In this respect, Government initiated measures to promote the use of energy efficient lamps in the country with the ultimate aim of phasing out the use of incandescent lamps.

Progress:
• Most Government buildings are already provided with fluorescent tube fittings, which are energy efficient and there is increasing use of other energy efficient lamps. In 2009, the Maurice Ile Durable Fund (MIDF) financed the replacement of 3200 conventional lamps by compact fluorescent ones in Government buildings.

• Moreover, in a bid to reducing the electricity consumption in the public service, the Energy Services Division (ESD), which operates within Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, monitored the use of some large consumers and provided guidance on energy saving measures, essentially through a review of the lighting systems. In this regard, more efficient lighting systems have been installed at Royal College Curepipe, SSS Riviere du Rempart as well as in offices occupied by the Ministry of Education & Human Resources at the IVTB House.

• Such new lighting systems, comprising the use of T5 fluorescent tubes, are now encouraged by the ESD for all new Government buildings and for any new electrical installation works.

 

Benefits to be derived:
The benefit of using energy efficient lamps is twofold, namely reducing the electricity bill of the consumer and reducing the energy demand on the CEB grid.

Government wants also to lead by example through implementing specific measures within its own buildings and hence upgrade the energy performance of public buildings.