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Gov't says 70MW of renewable energy projects underway

Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology has revealed that 70MW of renewable energy projects are currently in various stages.

Speaking to PSM News, Director General of the environment ministry Ahmed Ali said there are many energy projects in various stages. He said that the 70MW renewable energy project is underway, adding that solar panels have already been sent to 12 islands in Thaa Atoll.

The ministry stated that the projects will reduce the billions spent on energy subsidies in the Maldives. Making the Maldives a net zero country by 2030 is an important policy of the government in the field of energy. Therefore, various projects are being implemented in different parts of the country in collaboration with different donors.

Additionally, the ministry stated that 34MW of renewable energy has been generated from 2019 to 2022 as a result of the expansion of the renewable energy sector. As such, 8MW of energy in 2019, 9MW in 2021, and 13MW were generated in 2022, bringing the total number of renewable energy generated in the Maldives to 53MW, according to the ministry.

The government aims to stop spending about 10% of the national product on energy generation and make the money available for other sectors. In addition, the Maldives is dependent on fuel for energy generation, and protecting the economy from the sudden changes in the global fuel market is one of the reasons why the government is working to switch to renewable energy.