The Mauritian Cabinet, in a meeting held on October 9, 2026, took note of the alarming water levels in the country's reservoirs. As of October 8, 2026, the main reservoirs' water storage levels stood at 57.1%, significantly down from 87.4% in 2025. The Mare aux Vacoas Reservoir's storage level was reported at 35.7%. This critical situation prompted the Cabinet to declare an emergency in the Upper Plaine Wilhems region.
In response to the water crisis, the Cabinet agreed on several measures to mitigate the situation. Nine boreholes will be used to supply the Mare aux Vacoas Water Supply Zone with an additional 30,000m3 of water by the end of October 2026. The abstraction of around 4,000m3 of water from Rivière Pétrin and Rivière Papayes will also be done to supply La Marie Water Treatment Plant. Furthermore, the capacity of the existing pipeline from Mare Longue Reservoir to La Marie Water Treatment Plant will be increased from 15,000 m3 to 30,000m3 per day.
Dr. P. M. K. Soonarane has been appointed as the Director General of the Public Utilities division to oversee the implementation of these emergency measures and develop medium-term and long-term plans for the water sector. The Ministry of Finance will provide necessary financial support to mobilize resources to address the challenging water situation. Additionally, the Water Tank and Water Pump Grant Scheme will be extended to all households that are not already equipped with water tanks, providing a grant of two tanks, a pump, and fittings.
Prime Minister of Mauritius met with Jonathan Powell, the UK's National Security Adviser, on October 2, 2026, in London. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed that the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, was not negotiable. The Prime Minister also made it clear that Mauritius would take the legal route unless the matter was expeditiously resolved. The legal strategy was finalized with the legal team in London.
The Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, in collaboration with other ministries, has developed a mobile application to enable citizens to estimate and plan their State Age Pension. The application, available on the KOREK! App and the Ministry's website, allows citizens to estimate their pension and apply online. A press conference was held on October 6, 2026, to inform the public about the possibility of applying online for the State Age Pension.
The Cabinet also took note of the outcome of the Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency Campaign 2025-2026 and the action plan for the forthcoming summer season 2026-2027. A similar Energy Saving Campaign will be launched from October 2026 to April 2027 to manage peak power demand and avoid electricity shortages. The campaign will adopt an integrated approach combining direct customer engagement, extensive mass media, and digital communication to promote energy-saving practices.
In a related development, the Mauritius Telecom Foundation will establish a scholarship for the best-performing Higher School Certificate student, ranking immediately after the State Scholarship Laureate on the Science Side. This initiative aims to recognize and reward outstanding academic achievements.
Key points
- The Mauritian government has declared an emergency in the Upper Plaine Wilhems region due to critically low water levels in the nation's reservoirs.
- The Cabinet has agreed on several measures to address the water crisis, including the use of boreholes and the abstraction of water from rivers.
- The Prime Minister of Mauritius has emphasized that the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago is not negotiable and may take the legal route if the matter is not expeditiously resolved.
