- President Muizzu has nominated Ambassador Thoriq Ibrahim as the Maldives' permanent representative to IRENA, pending parliamentary approval.
- The role, held alongside his UAE ambassadorship, could improve Maldivian access to renewable-energy planning, project support and financing networks.
- The appointment aligns with the ARISE programme and national target of meeting 33 per cent of energy needs from renewables by 2028.
Maldives is seeking to strengthen its engagement with the International Renewable Energy Agency, with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu nominating Ambassador Thoriq Ibrahim as the country’s permanent representative to the Abu Dhabi-based organisation.
The President’s request for parliamentary approval was read during Tuesday’s sitting and has been referred to the Foreign Relations Committee for review. If approved, Thoriq will hold the IRENA role alongside his current post as Maldivian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
IRENA brings together 171 countries and the European Union to advance renewable-energy deployment through policy advice, data, technical support and international cooperation. Its location in Abu Dhabi makes the dual appointment administratively aligned with Thoriq’s ambassadorial posting in the UAE.
The role could give the Maldives a more direct channel to engage with IRENA’s work on renewable-energy planning, project preparation and access to financing networks. This is relevant for a geographically dispersed country that remains reliant on diesel-powered island grids and is working to expand solar generation and battery storage.
The government’s ARISE programme aims to deploy up to 36 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity across the Maldives and around 40 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage. It is intended to support the national target of meeting 33 per cent of energy needs from renewable sources by 2028, while reducing diesel imports and power-sector costs.
The Maldives has been an IRENA member since the agency was established in 2009. It has previously benefited from IRENA-linked project support, including the R. Vandhoo waste-to-energy facility selected through the former IRENA-Abu Dhabi Fund for Development project facility.
Thoriq has served as environment minister under the administrations of Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and President Muizzu. He was among the President’s original Cabinet members, later serving as Minister of Tourism and Environment after the two portfolios were merged in February 2025.
He resigned from the Cabinet in April during a wider reshuffle, before being appointed ambassador-at-large at the Foreign Ministry and subsequently ambassador to the UAE in June.
