Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has announced that one lane of the Hulhule’-Hulhumale’ link road will be closed at certain hours for the installation of solar panels.
The installation of the 5MW solar power system on the link road started on December 7. The installation of the solar power system is financed by the World Bank under the Accelerating Sustainable Private Investment in Renewable Energy (ASPIRE) initiative. The project has been awarded to Thailand-based Ensys Company Limited and they will also be tasked with maintaining the system.
The environment ministry stated that one lane of the link road will be closed at certain times for the construction of steel structures to install the solar power system on the vacant area in the middle of the link road and the east side facing the beach. It will be closed every morning from 0930-1130hrs and afternoon 1330-1630hrs except Sundays. The ministry said the installation of the structure is scheduled to start on December 25 and is expected to be completed by February 5, 2023. The order and times of road closures have been determined after consultation with all relevant government agencies.
The project is the largest initiative in the Maldives under the second phase of ASPIRE. The solar power system is expected to significantly decrease the reliance on oil and allow the government to save USD1.3 million each year.