STELCO Upgrades Power Infrastructure Across Three Atolls Following Government Utility Transfer

The State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has begun upgrading electricity services across several islands in Baa, Meemu, and Lhaviyani Atolls. These upgrades follow a government directive from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to transfer utility management from Fenaka Corporation Limited to STELCO to optimize the delivery of essential services. Managing Director Dr Ali Azwar confirmed that the company is implementing a comprehensive plan to bring these newly assigned islands up to STELCO's operational standards. The project is being funded through an additional supplementary budget specifically allocated for the three transferred atolls. Now managing utilities for 61 inhabited islands, STELCO is focusing on critical infrastructure modernization. This includes relocating aging powerhouses away from residential areas to uninhabited zones to improve safety and noise levels. Additionally, the company is renovating generation facilities, installing new fuel storage tanks, and laying streamlined fuel pipelines. To promote sustainable energy, STELCO is also advancing solar photovoltaic projects. These initiatives are being driven through a combination of independent company efforts and foreign-assisted programs, reducing the islands' reliance on diesel generators. The urgency of these upgrades was highlighted recently in Kihaadhoo, Baa Atoll. When a technical failure in one of the island's three 250-kilowatt generators threatened widespread power cuts, STELCO responded within 24 hours by dispatching a 400-kilowatt generator. Technical teams are currently commissioning the unit to ensure the community maintains a stable and reliable power supply. These systemic improvements reflect a broader effort to modernize the Maldives' decentralized energy grid, ensuring that remote island communities receive the same quality of utility service as urban centers.