Thursday 19 Mar 2026
Addu city faces another power outage, March 16, 2026.
On Monday night, Addu City experienced a widespread power outage across its connected islands, with electrical service failing at approximately 11:00 PM. While power was partially restored within 30 minutes, the incident highlights the chronic energy infrastructure instability facing the Maldives’ second-most populous city. Local officials, including the Mayor, have warned that further disruptions remain possible despite temporary efforts to bolster capacity with additional generator units. Ultimately, residents and stakeholders anticipate that long-term stability will only be achieved through the completion of the city’s planned new powerhouse, which currently faces significant development delays.
A power outage affected all connected islands of Addu City late Monday night.
Hithadhoo Maamendhoo Councilor Dr Aminath Adhala Rasheed told Sun that electricity went out across the connected islands at around 11:00 pm. She said the outage was caused by a technical issue, though authorities have not announced when full supply will be restored.
Power returned to some parts of the city at 11:29 pm.
Adhala noted that power cuts have been less frequent since the start of Ramadan, though the connected islands experienced a similar outage three weeks ago. Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has also stated that there is no guarantee the city will remain free of power cuts for the rest of the month.
Power outages have long been a recurring issue in Addu City, the most populous city in the Maldives.
To address the shortages, a one‑megawatt generator was recently brought to the city, followed by an additional 1.8 MW unit. Many residents believe the problem will only be fully resolved once the new powerhouse is completed. Although the government has awarded the project to a Chinese company, work has yet to begin.
