A backup power plant has been put into operation in Hulhumalé to meet the anticipated rise in electricity consumption during this year’s peak season after Ramadan.

The power plant, spanning 48,000 square feet, was developed to ensure a stable power supply as demand increases

Speaking at the inauguration, the Managing Director of State Electric Company Limited (STELCO), Hussain Fahmy, stated that electricity consumption during Ramadan is not expected to surge significantly this year compared to previous years. He attributed this to the final 10 days coinciding with Government closures and school holidays. However, he emphasised that STELCO is preparing for the post-Ramadan peak season, as higher temperatures typically drive up electricity demand.

Fahmy highlighted the immense effort that went into establishing the backup power plant, noting that within just nine days, workers cleared 48,000 square feet of land, removed 200 tonnes of debrist, levelled the site, installed canals from Annex 1 Power Station, laid fuel lines, and connected cables to the main power plant.

As part of its expansion efforts, STELCO has decided to install 12 generator sets, each with a capacity of 1.6 Megawatt, at the Annex 2 power plant in Hulhumalé. Seven generators have already been commissioned and are operational, while the remaining five are set to be installed before the end of Ramadan, bringing the total installed capacity to 19.2 Megawatt.

While no significant overload is expected during this year's peak season, Fahmy stated that power outages could still occur due to technical challenges associated with the ongoing work.