Despite promises to fix the problem before Ramadan and the transfer of new generators from Malé, scheduled power cuts continued throughout the month in the southernmost atoll, the second most populous urban centre after the capital. 

Reflecting mounting public outrage, MP Ahmed Azaan, who represents Addu’s Central Hithadhoo constituency, called for Fenaka boss Mohamed Najah to step down after the state utility announced one-hour outages from noon to 7pm yesterday, forcing many residents of the interconnected islands to break their fast without electricity.  

Monday’s outages were later extended after a 1,000 kilowatt generator stopped working during ongoing repair work on two 1,600 kilowatt generators, Fenaka informed the public.

Over the past three weeks of Ramadan, irate Addu residents have been expressing frustration on social media and sharing Fenaka’s notification messages on times and locations for power interruptions. 

“Fenaka promised to fix this by the 1st of Ramadan, that promise clearly meant nothing,” Azaan tweeted on Sunday in response to one such post with a screenshot from the Fenaka Viber group.

“I oppose decorating the city with lights for Eid as a protest against [President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s] government's inability to resolve the ongoing power outages in Addu,” said Ibrahim Shinaz, a city council member, echoing calls from Deputy Mayor Mohamed Shuaau. 

“Ramadan is now ending with many household appliances damaged, without hearing the call for prayer, without electricity at iftar,” the deputy mayor told Addu Live, referring to the government’s instructions to set up Eid lights.  

Responding to Azaan’s call for his resignation, Fenaka Managing Director Najah told Dhauru that the problem would be solved once a brand new 1.8 megawatt generator is sent and installed at Addu’s central power station. 

“I didn’t say I would resign,” he insisted, assuring that the problem would be completely solved when the new generators are operational. 

Power cuts have only been made during peak usage hours because of the inability of damaged generators to handle higher loads, Najah noted.

As repair work was ongoing on two 1,600 kilowatt generators, the one-hour outages on Monday were necessary due to a shortage of 1,000 kilowatts during peak usage times, Fenaka explained.

According to Fenaka, the corporation’s technical team has worked 18 hours a day on average since March 1 to service five engines, overhaul three engines, carry out preventive maintenance on 18 engines, and secure spare parts for eight engines.

The current cycle of regular power outages began in mid-2024, but the lack of capacity at the Addu powerhouse has been a longstanding problem across successive administrations. 

In a Facebook post, a senior Fenaka official blamed the lack of spare parts, failure to carry out preventive maintenance, and the underutilisation of generators that have not been operating at full capacity.

“I think those in Malé don’t understand or [perhaps] not care about the seriousness of the situation in Addu. While they spent millions on a backup power plant for Malé in a short period, [they] could have done the same for Addu,” MP Azaan told The Edition, referring to a new facility in Hulhumalé that was completed in nine days by the State Electricity Corporation, which serves the capital and central atolls. 

In January, President Muizzu announced “special efforts” to ensure 24-hour electricity provision throughout the country. “God willing, within these two months, we aim to solve the electricity problem in all islands of the Maldives to an extent where you won't have to worry during the month of Ramadan,” he assured.