State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has issued a public advisory urging individuals to refrain from placing billboards or damaging the network intersection cables linking Male', Hulhule, and Hulhumale'.
In the announcement, STELCO noted the network reportedly has the capacity of 200 megawatts to transmit current between stations and spans across 7 kilometers. They further highlighted this network to be the only network currently being used in the Maldives.
The cables in the network, originating from the 132kV substation at the Male' Power Station, are laid from the Usfasgandu area, across the Sinamale' Bridge and Highway, to the 132kV substation at the Hulhumale' Power Station. STELCO stated that the grid is also supplying a large percentage of the electricity needed in the city.
STELCO reaffirmed that any damage to the network cables would result in substantial expenses and require a significant time to repair. They attested that this would, in turn, interrupt the electricity services provided in the Male' region as well.
Additionally, STELCO underscored the significant risk to installers' lives if metal objects were placed on the intersection cables.
STELCO also revealed that measures will be enforced against those damaging the network intersection cables in any form. Along with this, it has urged road excavators and authorities giving permission for billboards to be more responsible.