Electricity Shortages in Addu Persist Through Ramadan
Photo: MV+
Electricity shortages in Addu continue to affect residents, with disruptions persisting through Ramadan, despite President Mohamed Muizzu’s assurance that electricity issues across the Maldives would be resolved within two months.
He expressed confidence that the issue would be addressed before the start of the holy month while visiting Fiori in Huvadhu Atoll.
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These power outages reflect similar problems experienced during last year’s fasting month.
Power outages were still reported in Addu on 24 March, beginning at 2 pm, followed by a notice from the service provider about additional scheduled interruptions. The notice indicated that power would be cut for one hour between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Hithadhoo and surrounding islands.
Fenaka Corporation, which oversees electricity provision in the region, has attributed the ongoing shortages to the need for repairs on two 1,600 kW engines at the Addu Central Power Station. This has led to a deficit of 1,000 kW during peak hours, affecting service delivery to connected islands.
To mitigate the issue, Fenaka has introduced additional generators, including a 1.8 MW generator before Ramadan and two more generators (1,000 kW and 1,600 kW) earlier this month. Nevertheless, the installation of these generators, which the President had hoped would be completed before Ramadan, has not fully resolved the situation.
Despite these efforts, Fenaka, which is responsible for providing electricity, water, and sewerage services, has faced growing operational challenges. The company’s workload has expanded beyond its core duties, with several government-owned entities, including Fenaka, carrying out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
Despite these initiatives, concerns remain regarding Fenaka’s financial stability and its ability to prioritise and adequately address its primary responsibilities.
