Electricity Demand In Greater Malé Rises 50 MW Every Five Years, Says STELCO MD

Electricity demand in the Greater Malé Region increases by approximately 50 megawatts (MW) every five years, according to State Electric Company (STELCO) Managing Director Hussain Fahumee.

The foundation stone for the existing 50 MW plant was laid several years ago, and delays in expanding capacity have contributed to current power outages during maintenance periods. While 17 MW of additional capacity was added to the Greater Malé grid last year, this was a temporary measure.

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The government is now planning the construction of a new 100 MW power plant, which is expected to be located in Thilafushi rather than Malé or Hulhumalé. However, ongoing construction of the Thila-Malé Bridge has posed challenges to the original timeline.

Building a new power plant requires significant investment, estimated between USD 100 million and USD 200 million, with financing often dependent on support from international financial institutions.

STELCO highlighted that, unlike many major cities worldwide, the Maldives does not operate a national electricity grid, and all electricity generation in Malé is handled solely by STELCO. This creates additional challenges in maintaining consistent service delivery.

Recent power outages in parts of Malé and Hulhumalé, recorded on June 1 and June 9, have been investigated, and corrective measures are currently underway. The company continues to work to minimise the duration of power cuts while navigating the financial and logistical challenges of expanding capacity.