The State Electric Company Limited (STELCO) has called upon residents of the Malé area to take precautions regarding their electricity usage. This comes as a severe heatwave coincides with the observance of Ramadan, a period when energy consumption typically increases.
STELCO Managing Director Hussain Fahmy highlighted that the Maldives Meteorological Service (MET) has declared this to be the hottest period of the year. Power consumption in the Malé area has already surged to 104.7 megawatts in recent days, significantly higher than the usual daily average of 94 megawatts.
“To minimize expenditure on electricity, it is advisable to consume only what is necessary and pay special attention to conserving electricity during this period,” Fahmy urged.
The MET reports that the highest temperature recorded in the Maldives this year stands at 42 degrees Celsius. Last year, the maximum “feels-like” temperature in the Malé region soared to a staggering 45 degrees Celsius.
This year’s El Niño weather pattern is expected to exacerbate the heat. Global weather agencies predict that temperatures could rise even further. According to the MET, the hottest part of the day is anticipated to occur around 14:00 hours.
