State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has revealed electricity will be provided to Hulhumale' next month, as part of the largest power project conducted by the government, the Fifth Power Project. The engines kept under the Fifth Power Project will begin functioning in March, General Manager of STELCO Ahmed Saif said speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, adding testing will be conducted this month.
As part of the project, six 8.9-megawatt generators will be installed, which STELCO says will mark an important milestone in the development of the country's power sector. Performance tests have been completed on five generators and the final test will be performed once the remaining engine undergoes performance tests, according to Ahmed Saif.
Upon completion, the new power plant will have the capacity to generate 50-megawatts of power to Male', Hulhule' and Hulhumale' via the Sina-Male' Bridge. Ahmed Saif said the construction of Sina-Male' Bridge, connecting Male' and Hulhule', minimised the expenses of the project, adding if not, the cables must be connected under the ocean at a high cost.
Moreover, Saif revealed latest preparations are now underway to connect the electricity networks of the two most populous islands in Maldives, adding the basic design of the project has been completed now. He stated the project to connect the electricity network of Male' and Hulhumale' will be concluded within next year.
The Fifth Power Project is the largest power project conducted in Maldives. The USD 79 million project initiated by STELCO in Hulhumale' is contracted to Dongfang Electric International Corporation. STELCO aims to assure electricity coverage for the next 10 to 20 years, upon completion of the Fifth Power Project.
The project is funded by a loan arranged from the Exim Bank of China.