Local authorities to cut off electricity in Maamendhoo due to recurring blackouts

Due to recurring blackouts in L. Maamendhoo, authorities have decided to cut off the island’s electricity until a permanent solution is found.

Maamendhoo residents have been protesting outside the island’s power station due to the blackouts.

Speaking to RaajjeMV, Maamendhoo council president Hussain Habeeb said that they have been having recurring blackouts for the past four months and frequent blackouts began occurring since Friday evening.

“Residents’ expensive belongings have been damaged. Fridges, air conditioners, TVs. There have been increasing complaints from residents.”

Habeeb said that residents began protesting because of a lack of any solution and that the council has discussed with employees at the power station before deciding to cut off electricity in the island.

He said that despite the ongoing protests, he is doubtful that a solution would be found soon.

“A spare [generator] is not available in the country. A solution can only be found after a spare is ordered and received. Residents don’t want electricity for just an hour. There is no solution until spare parts for the generator are brought from abroad. I have talked to the official in charge of the atoll, Abdulla Sulaiman. He has said that the order for the parts has been made. It has been fifteen days since the order’s been made. [He said] the parts will be brought in after seven days. While [people’s] belongings are being damaged for the past seven or ten days, we won’t accept giving electricity hour by hour.”

Habeeb said that the Maamendhoo power station has a 400kW generator, a 180kW generator, and a 160kW generator but that the 180kW and 160kW generators have been damaged for some time.