<B>By Nicholas RAINER</B>

Rico du Mée is right. The octogenarian entrepreneur recently declared in an interview in "l?express-dimanche" that "the future of Mauritius has a name: Joël de Rosnay". The latter?s overriding ambition, which consists of transforming Mauritius into a "sustainable island" is still in its infancy but its potential is nothing short of dazzling.

Joël de Rosnay is no stranger to grand undertakings. As one of the architects of the cyber-island concept, he knows first-hand the challenges inherent to substantively altering the way a country thinks and operates. And, even if the cyber-island is still a long way from fulfilling all its promises (Joël de Rosnay is the first to quip about the sluggishness of the country?s Internet connection), there is no denying that it has improved Mauritius?s prospects incommensurably.

The country currently depends on fossil fuels for 80% of its energy needs. This renowned scientist believes that Mauritius possesses the wherewithal and resources to achieve the audacious objective of drawing 60% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2028. The government?s target is considerably less ambitious.

The country currently spends Rs 60 billion on its energy needs every year. Until the country succeeds in weaning itself off its addiction to fossil fuels, this already onerous bill is doomed to increase vertiginously year in. In 2006, petrol price increases represented a staggering Rs 3,000 billion!

It?s one of the world?s most obscene paradoxes. While GDP per capita in developing countries is, in the best of cases, fifteen times inferior to that of developed countries, the former spend ten to twenty-five times more on the importation of fossil fuels than their prosperous northern neighbours.

What?s all the fuss about renewable energies anyway? Primo, they?re inexhaustible, which, as the advent of Peak Oil has shown us, is essential for the sustainability and stability of the world system. Secundo, they don?t generate any waste, a major criterion for any human activity nowadays. Tertio, the technologies needed to harness them don?t cost that much.

Joël de Rosnay also posits that anyone can become a Small Independent Power Producer (SIPP), effectively producing energy and selling it back to his/her neighbours through a virtual power station. This is not as outlandish as it sounds. The technologies used to capture and store renewable energies are a lot simpler than those used by fossil fuel-powered stations. Moreover, the SIPP concept would allow for a localized, and thus more effective system of distribution.

The ?energy mix? Joel de Rosnay hopes will liberate Mauritius from its addiction to fossil fuels hinges on two factors. Firstly, the mix must be composed of a broad range of renewable energies to ensure a constant supply. Secondly, the country needs to become far more energy efficient.

On the surface, Navin Ramgoolam seems committed to Joel de Rosnay?s vision. Last week, he made a solemn appeal urging the nation to adopt more sustainable habits. Strangely, this noble message seems to have been lost on his government. Two major projects illustrate this inconvenient truth: CT-Power?s coal-fired power station near Albion and Tianli?s huge project in Riche-Terre. The former will perpetuate our absurd dependency on fossil fuels while the latter will put an immense amount of strain on our already scarce resources. A sea change in our approach to energy? I fear not.