The CEB assignment was awarded to the consulting firm following an international competitive bidding process. Arthur Andersen's India head for power and utilities Nitin Atroley said the assignment will be managed by the firm's power and utilities practice in India.

In the first phase of the assignment, the company will assist the Mauritius government in defining the industry structure and providing inputs in drawing up the enabling legal regulatory frame work. This will involve defining the road map of action to be taken, to enable the power sector to operate on commercial principles and have operational, managerial and financial autonomy.

The company will also address legal and institutional reforms that will need to be undertaken including the frame work for establishing a multi-sector regulatory body.

The second phase will build on the process to effectively commercialise this sector. Arthur Andersen is one of the leading advisors to the Indian power sector reform process. It is actively working with state electricity boards in Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, assisting them with reforms, restructuring and privitisation programmes.