It will take at least one year to provide a permanent solution to the power outages affecting Addu City, says Mohamed Najah, the managing director of Fenaka Corporation.
Addu, home to the largest residential population outside of Male’, has been affected for months by frequent power interruptions.
Najah, who attended a meeting with the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, was questioned by committee member and central Hithadhoo representative Ahmed Azaan Marzooq regarding when the residents of Addu can except a permanent solution to the issue.
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee holds a meeting with officials from Fenaka Corporation on October 23, 2025. (Photo/People's Majlis)
Azaan said that the city faces power outages 89 days over the last one year.
Najah responded that the state utility company is working on providing a permanent solution to the issue, while also exploring options for temporary fixes.
Many in Addu rest their hopes in a planned project to build a powerhouse in Addu, the work on which has yet to start.
Najah told the committee a project to provide a permanent solution to the power outages in Addu will be awarded to a new contractor this year.
Hithadhoo, Addu City. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)
He said that the company has asked for counsel from the Finance Ministry as the project was being financed with a loan with a sovereign guarantee.
“God willing, this will be awarded to a contractor and the work will begin this year. The work to provide a permanent solution to Addu Atoll,” he said.
Najah said the daily power usage in Addu had been 12.6 megawatts during Ramadan this year, with the usage estimated to rise by a megawatt next year.
Najah said Addu currently has the capacity to cater to this estimated rise in demand.
“We are very sure that we will be able to provide uninterrupted electricity services. Now I’m not saying that something unexpected might not occur,” he said.
Najah said that while the project to provide a permanent solution to the issue will be initiated this year, it will take at least a year for the project to be complete.
Fenaka Corporation's Managing Director Mohamed Najah attends a meeting with the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on October 23, 2025. (Photo/People's Majlis)
He said that Fenaka is sending additional generators to Addu to provide a temporary solution in the meantime.
“It will take minimum one year to produce a total solution. Therefore, we plan on using the generators we are bringing in now to generate power for the one year or until the project is complete,” he said.
Najah added that Fenaka intends to stipulate in the contract that Addu must be provided uninterrupted power services while the project is in progress.
We will not be carrying out the project any other way, he said.
Fenaka – which provides utility services in Addu – installed a 1.8-megawatt generator set on February 21 to fix the power outages in the linked islands of the city. Another 1-megawatt generator set was sent on March 13, and a 1.8-megawatt generator on March 25.
But the city continues to be affected by power disruptions.
Fenaka has previously said it needs generators to create an additional 15 kilowatts of power to fuel the city.