Construction of new power plant in Addu to begin this year
President Mohamed Muizzu announced a new 32 MW power plant for Hithadhoo, with an upgraded distribution network.
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Work on a 30 MW power plant in Addu will begin before the end of this year, Fenaka Managing Director Mohamed Najah told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Electricity supply in Addu has been affected by repeated generator faults, Najah said during a briefing to the State Owned Enterprises Committee.
A 1.8 MW generator will be installed this Ramadan to increase capacity. “12 MW has been installed so far. With an additional 1.8 MW, we will be able to generate 13 or 14 MW,” he said.
Fenaka data shows 14 generators were installed in Addu between 2019 and 2023. All but two sustained damage. Committee members noted the service life had been short.
Najah said the current government had sent eight generators to Addu and upgraded 12 MW of capacity. This year, MVR 16 million was spent on repairs. The newer units have not been shut down due to faults so far, he said, though cable issues could still cause outages.
All damaged generators that can be repaired are undergoing work, Najah said. Spare parts will arrive within two months. “We are looking at bringing about 16 to 17 MW into the system,” he added, describing the steps as temporary measures while long-term plans advance.
Deputy Managing Director of Power House Engineering Mohamed Arif said medium-speed generators were being selected as part of the long-term plan, which now includes five 6 MW generators, providing roughly 30 MW with backup.
An expansion of the existing power station will support the installation, Najah said. A Fenaka assessment team will visit Addu within two weeks. Contractors will be required to install a generator to prevent outages during construction, which also includes cable-laying work. The project is expected to run for six years.
This month, President Mohamed Muizzu announced a new 32 MW power plant for Hithadhoo, with an upgraded distribution network. The project cost is $59 million, with Fenaka granted 12 years to complete payments.
A similar proposal had been announced on 18 April 2024 ahead of parliamentary elections. Najah said a contract had previously been awarded but reviewed later due to challenges, after which the project was fully reassessed.
