Friday
19th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Ahmed Shareef. Photo: TMJ
Ahmed Shareef, the Managing Director of STELCO, a state-run power company that provides electricity in greater Male' area stated that he is not aware of any tests conducted by an Indian team to connect India and the Maldives' electricity grids. During a press conference on Monday, when asked by The Maldives Journal about the India-Maldives power grid connectivity efforts, Shareef stated, "To the best of my knowledge, there isn't any such exercise being carried out."
India's Power Ministry released a statement in early January announcing that a technical team from India had visited the Maldives and completed a study to connect the country's electricity grid. The study is part of the "One Sun, One World, One Grid" (OSOWOG) program launched by India, and the statement claimed that they have finished the charter and initiated the appointment of a steering committee to carry out the program.
According to Indian media reports, the Maldives and India signed an agreement in April of last year to participate in the OSOWOG and connect their electricity grids. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Maldives' Environment Minister, Aiminath Shauna, and India's Energy Minister, Raj Kumar Sinha.
The Power Ministry also stated that the Economic and Technical Feasibility Study on connecting regional power grids under the OSOWOG program has been completed. The program aims to connect power grids in South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and the first Indian power grid to be connected will be with the electricity grids of the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
When asked by TMJ today, Shareef stated that he has not received any information regarding the study yet. However, he believes that if a major project related to electricity is being carried out, STELCO would have a role in it.
An anonymous official from the Environment Ministry confirmed that a team of Indian experts had visited the Maldives to conduct research and met with all relevant stakeholders in the country's energy system, including STELCO. He added that discussions are already underway between the two countries, with STELCO, the Environment Ministry, and the President's Office involved.
The Power Ministry also stated that the Economic and Technical Feasibility Study on connecting regional power grids under the OSOWOG program has been completed. The program aims to connect power grids in South Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, and the first Indian power grid to be connected will be with the electricity grids of the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
When asked by TMJ today, Shareef stated that he has not received any information regarding the study yet. However, he believes that if a major project related to electricity is being carried out, STELCO would have a role in it.
An anonymous official from the Environment Ministry confirmed that a team of Indian experts had visited the Maldives to conduct research and met with all relevant stakeholders in the country's energy system, including STELCO. He added that discussions are already underway between the two countries, with STELCO, the Environment Ministry, and the President's Office involved.