VICTORIA, Seychelles — Construction has officially begun on the SeySun Lagoon project, an ambitious solar photovoltaic installation that is being developed in Zone 18 at Providence by the company Qair.
The launch of the work marks a major step in Seychelles’ push for energy independence. The project, which is expected to draw around 8 million US dollars in solar investment, will include 10,000 solar panels with storage, as well as the modernisation of the electricity network. The plant will sell electricity to the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement. Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2026, after which the project will be operated by a fully Seychellois company, SeySun Lagoon.
The Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, Flavien Joubert, described the day as historic. ‘With the launch of construction of our first solar photovoltaic project developed by an independent producer, we are opening a new path in our quest for energy security, sustainability and resilience,’ he said. Roland de Rosnay, representing Qair, said the project is a foundation that will serve the community of Seychelles for many years to come.
French Ambassador to Seychelles Anne Tallineau expressed her ‘great joy’ at seeing the project finally take shape, praising the partnership with local stakeholders and noting that the installation represents a concrete response to the dual challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability. The principal secretary for energy and climate change, Tony Imaduwa, recalled that the project has been in the pipeline for several years, with the call for tenders launched in 2018 or 2019 and the power purchase agreement signed in 2023.
