Plan to boost power capacity in Addu and Fuvahmulah

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced a project to increase electricity capacity in Addu and Fuvahmulah cities, with the goal of meeting demand for the next 10 years.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office which began at 10 am Saturday, Muizzu said the project would be completed within six months, with funding already allocated in the state budget.

“There won’t be any loss from this. Tourism is on the rise. A major airport is opening [in Addu]. We’re making this decision based on those developments,” he said.

The project aims to resolve the frequent power outages experienced in Addu since last Ramadan. The city's generators had not been properly serviced under the previous administration, prompting the purchase of additional units to cope with demand, President Muizzu said.

“When we took office on 17 November 2023, the condition of power plants across the islands was bad,” said President Muizzu.

“I don’t think those before us believed in repairs. Now we’re the ones who have to fix everything. Many places were in very poor condition.”

Since November, the government has brought in 77 new generators and repaired 300 more, he said.

The electricity grid has also been upgraded in 15 islands.

“These are things that were not maintained in the past. When Ramadan arrives, people’s concerns grow because of the seriousness of the power issue. This is a continuous process,” the President said.