STELCO Plans Major Investments to Upgrade Utility Services Across Maldives' Islands

The Managing Director of the State Electric Company (STELCO), Dr. Azwar, has said that large investments are planned to develop utility services across the country's islands, aimed especially at islands with large populations. Dr. Azwar made the remarks at a special ceremony held today to appreciate the staff who worked in the transition phase of transferring FENAKA Corporation's services to STELCO. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Azwar said that with the transfer, the company's role and responsibility in providing utility services across the entire Maldives will become greater than before. He said that along with FENAKA's investments, STELCO now proceeds as one of the largest companies among the Maldives' major companies, and that the responsibility of turning the hopes placed by the people and the government into reality is felt to be great. He asked that steps be taken to carry things forward and that STELCO fully perform the role it must fulfil, and that especially the senior staff work strategically. Dr. Azwar noted that STELCO's brand is already maintained as a place from which trusted service is received. After successfully completing the first phase of transferring services and taking over the services, he said the biggest and most difficult task remaining is providing services on the islands at the complete standard the people desire. Therefore, he said large investments need to be made to achieve this great hope held for the company. Shedding light on the situation of the islands, Dr. Azwar said that in still very many islands, generator houses are located in areas where the general public lives and in the middle of the island. Noting that due to this, the noise and smoke from the generators cause extreme difficulties for the people living nearby, he said that the government's current aim is to move such generator houses away from populated areas as soon as possible. He also said the aim is to complete considerable large-scale work by November of next year, and that this is a great deal of heavy work that must be done within a short period. Dr. Azwar thanked the large number of the company's staff who had completed the practical work of transferring FENAKA's services to STELCO on the set dates from 30 September to 06 November. Noting that this is a historically very important task, he said regarding the responsibility entrusted to the company, "This responsibility is one placed on the shoulders of all of us. For that, we all must work together." In addition, Dr. Azwar said he believes that if the good practices maintained within STELCO are maintained in the future as well, lasting solutions will be found for many of the issues that arise. While asking for the full cooperation and time of the staff to make this great task a success, Dr. Azwar thanked the decision made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to raise the standard of basic services received by the people and to provide services in a sustainable manner.