Minister of Environment, Climate Change, and Technology Aminath Shauna has requested the State Electric Company (STELCO) to complete its interconnection project by July. The minister made the request during her tour of the STELCO premises to assess the current electrical grid used to provide electricity to Male' City, as well as to inquire on the latest update on the Greater Male' Region Power Interconnection project.
The environment ministry stated that Minister Shauna requested STELCO to complete the Male'-Hulhumale' interconnection by July to quickly solve the power outage issues in Male' City. STELCO stated the project to interconnect electrical grids across the Greater Male' Region is reaching its final stages, following the installation of distribution systems and transformers in Male', Hulhumale' and Hulhule'. STELCO stated cables are currently being laid over the Sinamale' Bridge and that 93% of the project has been completed.
The power grid established under the project would connect Male', Hulhule' and Hulhumale' via an interconnection cable through the Sinamale' Bridge and the highway. STELCO revealed the network cable can carry 100 megawatts of electricity and expects the project to sustainably provide electricity service without interruptions.
The project is expected to solve the issue of power outages in the Greater Male' Region caused by the increasing electricity demands by 7% per year. Electrical grids in one part of the Greater Male' Region will be able to share electricity with another in case of a power outage once the project has been completed.
The project costs UD 45 million and is funded by a loan arranged from the Exim Bank of China.