Cyclone Chido, which struck Mayotte three weeks ago, caused extensive damage to the archipelago’s electrical infrastructure. As of now, only 69.7% of households have regained power, according to a report by Électricité de Mayotte (EDM). While significant progress has been made in several areas, a substantial portion of the population remains without access to energy.
In most villages and communes, about 75% of households are reconnected to the grid. However, in 20 particularly affected localities, the restoration rate remains below 50%, and in eight of them, less than 5% of households have had their power restored.
Mobilization of Teams and Resources
Since December 29, repair efforts have intensified. While only 51.6% of households were reconnected by that date, the rapid progress has brought the total to 69.7% within a week. EDF, a 25% shareholder of EDM, has deployed significant resources to accelerate the restoration of the network.
Currently, 75 employees have been sent to assist: 48 members of Enedis, specialists from the Rapid Electricity Intervention Force (FIRE), 17 technicians from EDF SEI, and 10 experts from the Rapid Nuclear Action Force (FARN). Additionally, 32 new members of FIRE will arrive this weekend, bringing the total number of technicians deployed to 80.
Substantial Logistical Resources
To support these efforts, EDF has transported more than 200 tons of specialized equipment, including cables, repair kits, and generators. In total, 60 vehicles, including 11 equipped with lifts, and 220 generators (20 of high capacity) have been mobilized. These supplies are transported daily from Réunion and Paris. This week, a cargo plane delivered an additional 100 tons of materials to expedite repair efforts.
Despite these resources, significant challenges remain. During his visit to the island at the end of December, Prime Minister François Bayrou set a goal of fully restoring electricity to all households by the end of January. Achieving this ambitious target will depend on the ability of teams to overcome numerous logistical and structural hurdles in the archipelago.
