Hulhumale Phase 3 power supply awaits final land-use plan

Electricity connections to residential plots in Hulhumale Phase 3 will not begin until the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) finalises the area’s Land Use Plan, state utility STELCO said on Friday.

The company took over management of the Phase 2 electricity network from HDC on June 18. STELCO said long-standing connection problems that had affected Phase 2 residents have now been resolved, and applications for new connections are being processed.

Previous delays were largely caused by HDC outsourcing network construction to external contractors, which complicated fault-finding and repairs.

To improve response times, HDC has handed over space in Phase 2 for an emergency response centre that STELCO will operate.

With Hulhumale’s population continuing to rise, STELCO is preparing to start construction this year of a new 70-megawatt power plant on the island. The plant is intended to meet the city’s growing electricity demand in the years ahead.