STELCO Takes Over FENAKA Utility Services in Haa Dhaalu and Shaviyani Atolls
The state electricity company said it had begun providing the utility services FENAKA ran on islands in the two northern atolls. It did not say when the handover took effect, how many islands it covers or whether tariffs will change.
The News
The State Electric Company (STELCO) said on Wednesday, 28 October, that it had officially taken over the utility services FENAKA Corporation provided on the islands of Haa Dhaalu and Shaviyani atolls, and had begun providing those services itself. The company said in a post on X that the handover followed a decision by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.
STELCO said work to bring services in the two atolls up to its own standards had been under way since the day it took them over. Its aim, the company said, was to ensure reliable and sustainable services for the people of both atolls.
The post did not say when the handover took effect, how many islands it covers, or whether it includes water and sewerage as well as electricity. It said nothing about tariffs, billing or the terms of FENAKA staff on the islands. The news page of STELCO's website carried no statement on the handover on Wednesday evening.
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In Haa Dhaalu, the handover began earlier this month. STELCO's managing director, Dr Ali Azwar, and other senior officials travelled to Kulhudhuffushi City on 14 October to formally take over services on the atoll's islands, the company said. The next day STELCO held a flag-raising ceremony in the city to mark the official start of its electricity service there. Dr Azwar and other officials then visited the city's office and powerhouse, where they checked the condition of the engines and the generation system.
STELCO used almost the same words on 17 October to announce that it had taken over FENAKA's utility services on the islands of Haa Alif Atoll. Its team had held flag-raising ceremonies at the powerhouses in Thuraakunu and Hoarafushi on 9 October. On 24 October the company said a new 1-megawatt generator set in Hoarafushi had been commissioned, raising the island's installed capacity to 3.3 megawatts.
Step Back
President Muizzu announced on 7 September that FENAKA Corporation Limited would be dissolved and its utility services integrated into STELCO, the President's Office said. He said the restructuring would reduce duplication in staffing and eliminate unnecessary expenditure. The release set no timetable.
The transfer has since moved one atoll at a time. STELCO took over electricity operations at the Central Power Station in Hithadhoo, Addu City, on 30 September, and began operating in Hulhudhoo and Meedhoo on 1 October, it said on its website. That made it Addu's electricity provider again after 17 years; the government had moved Addu's electricity operations to the Southern Utilities Company in 2009.
STELCO marked the start of its electricity service in Fuvahmulah City on 19 October. On 27 October it began electricity, water and sewerage services in Thinadhoo City and in Villingili in Gaafu Alif Atoll.
Earlier, on 22 September, STELCO described Baa, Lhaviyani and Meemu atolls and Huraa in Kaafu Atoll as places where it had newly begun providing services. It said so at the launch of a training programme for station managers and for staff temporarily in charge of powerhouses there.
