The Chinese government has donated 880 solar-powered streetlights to Maldives under the "China Solar Lights Maldives" project.

Chinese Ambassador Kong Xianhua and the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Dr. Abdulla Muththalib signed the agreement during the solar light handover ceremony.

According to the ministry, the agreement aims to promote clean energy and sustainable island development.

The Chinese ambassador said last year that as China has come up with advancements in producing energy with sunlight via floating solar projects out in the ocean, they are working to bring Chinese companies to conduct similar projects in Maldives.

He also said that the sector that needs to be prioritized the most in Maldives is the production of renewable energy and it is important to increase solar energy production capabilities.

The Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy signed a project agreement with China's Zhejiang Chingtian Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd yesterday to establish a 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a 15 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) in Maldives.

The ministry stated that this project will serve as a major impetus in achieving the government's target of making 33 percent of the energy generated in the Maldives renewable energy by the end of 2028.