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PUC Plans For The Sheikh

 

The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) is under pressure to accommodate the huge developments by Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi at La Misere and Barbarons. Regar has learned that new projects are planned in both electricity and water in which the needs of the Sheikh are the foremost consideration.

For electricity, the Corporation is finalizing plans for a high voltage line which will run up to the Sheikh’s palace at La Misere and then down to his property at Barbarons, and also to feed a distribution centre on the west coast.

PUC Deputy CEO, Joel Valmont, has said financing for this has been assured. As in other projects funded through the relationship with Sheikh Khalifa it is expected it will be in the form of a loan from the state of Abu Dhabi. In this case, it will be obvious that if the project will help Seychelles, the determining factor in the way it is being undertaken is the needs of Sheikh Khalifa.

PUC has anticipated the need for a new high voltage line to the west coast for some time now, in order to meet the demands for electricity from new tourism developments located on that side of the island. After the Chinese have dropped their offer of such a line to a distribution centre at Anse Royale, another alternative considered was the use of an existing line over Sans Soucis which would require upgrading. This option has been dropped in favour of the La Misere line.

PUC is also considering projects to meet the palace’s needs for water. Plans exist for a project to install a barrage at the waterfall at Souvenir to collect water which will be pumped up to palace site. The new facilities will be exclusively for the palace and will not be part of the public water supply. It is not expected that it will supply drinking water but to feed the many swimming pools, fountains and water features which will make the development a huge consumer of water.

It is not clear what the Skeikh will pay for or what loans he will provide. But there is self interest in what he does.

Government has begun playing the card of the Sheikh’s generosity. Since the latest incident at La Misere, we have been reminded of two instances where Seychelles has received financial assistance because of the relationship with Sheikh Khalifa. This has been the US$30 million loan for various projects including Perseverance, to be disbursed over ten years, and the funding for the Diagnostic Centre at Victoria Hospital. Such loans are from the state of Abu Dhabi and we will need to repay them. It is a shame to have brought them up in relation to the pollution of water at La Misere as if they were an excuse.

Source: Regar 2-26-10