(Updated -- 15/04/2026 at 1000hrs)

A mandatory weekly Energy Conservation Day will be introduced across the public sector from this Friday, 17 April 2026, as part of measures to manage electricity and fuel consumption amid ongoing pressure on global energy supplies.

This public sector initiative forms part of measures announced by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, on Friday April 10, to mitigate the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on energy supply and costs, as the government works to strengthen energy security and maintain a stable fuel supply.

The initiative is being implemented by the Department of Public Administration (DPA), in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Climate Affairs, with the support from the Department of Finance and the Department for Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM).

The measure focuses on reducing electricity and fuel consumption across government operations in a responsible manner, while ensuring the continued availability of public services. Taking the lead, the energy consumption measures will be implemented across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, with specific arrangements to maintain service continuity where required.

Operational Flexibility

The aim is to support energy reduction without compromising productivity and service delivery. Institutions may, where appropriate:

• Identify functions suitable for remote delivery and digital work arrangements.

• Establish clear work plans and deliverables to maintain operational effectiveness.

• Use digital platforms to ensure that services remain accessible to the public and that interactions with the private sector are not unnecessarily delayed.

Maintaining Essential Services and Public Access

The government wishes to emphasise that the primary purpose of this measure is to conserve energy without compromising service delivery.

• Service continuity: Remote work, digital service delivery and other practical arrangements will be used, where appropriate, to avoid disruption to members of the public, businesses and other stakeholders.

• Essential and critical services: All essential and critical services will remain fully operational in the interest of national stability, public safety and continuity of government.

Energy Conservation Measures for Designated Fridays

All public sector physical office locations shall, at all times, strictly observe the following energy conservation measures:

• Power management: switching off air-conditioning systems in offices not in use, reducing non-essential lighting, and powering down non-essential office equipment or placing equipment on energy-saving settings where required for continuity.

• Transport efficiency: limiting the non-essential use of government vehicles and reducing official travel to reduce daily fuel consumption where this can be done without affecting priority duties.

Monitoring and Long-Term Strategy

The initial implementation period coincides with the upcoming school holiday period and will provide an opportunity for the government to assess the effectiveness of the measure under manageable operating conditions.

In collaboration with the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) and other relevant agencies, the government will monitor:

1. Electricity consumption levels.

2. Fuel usage and commuting trends.

3. Overall service delivery performance.

A Call to National Solidarity

The government also encourages everyone to adopt sensible energy-saving practices in their daily work environment and at home. Private sector entities and members of the public are encouraged to also join this collective effort as we navigate the current global energy climate responsibly. This is a call to National Solidarity -- a call for All Hands on Deck.

For further information or queries, please contact DPA.