The Energy Minister launched on Tuesday a program to enable households to generate electricity from solar power.
The "Magey Solar" (My Solar) program was launched with the aim of reducing electricity bills and oil consumption, the Energy Ministry said. The program is to be carried out jointly by the government, utility companies and foreign donors.
The program was devised for solar PV systems installed in homes to be paid for in instalments. Solar panels are to be installed by the State Electricity Company (STELCO) and Fenaka, government utility companies that provide electricity services on all inhabited islands.
Under the first phase of the "Magey Solar" program, solar panels with the capacity to generate a total of 3 megawatts are to be provided to households. The government plans to install solar PV systems of 3 megawatts and 5 megawatts on the rooftops of private residences.
A bid was announced on Tuesday seeking a supplier of solar PV systems.
"Magey Solar" program Inauguration ceremony. -- Photo: Energy Ministry
According to the Energy Ministry, households with solar panels will be billed on the net metering basis. The households will be billed for the units of electricity used after deducting the amount produced by the panels. The deducted amount will be included in the monthly bills until the price of the PV systems bought on instalment basis is paid.
Explaining the benefits to the public, Energy Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said the government started the program so quickly as a priority after assuming office because it would alleviate the financial burden on the public and the state budget.
"I will also offer a small example. For example, to reduce expenditure on the electricity bill, if a 2 kilowatt solar panel like this is installed in a household with 300 units in the electricity bill, the bill would be reduced by 90 percent," he said.
The government's aim is to provide solar panels during the first phase to all households that apply, Thoriq said. The program was introduced with a convenient instalment option in order to provide the opportunity to as many people as possible, he said.
Energy Minister Thoriq speaking at the inauguration ceremony. -- Photo: Energy Ministry
The Energy Ministry also said that the program was devised to make the expensive solar PV systems affordable to the public with the instalment payment plan. The public will benefit in the long term by installing the solar panels, it added.
Despite inaugurating the "Magey Solar" program, a date for submitting applications has not been announced yet. It is expected to start after the bidding process is completed and the equipment is delivered.
Launching the program was also part of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's "14 Weeks" plan for his first 100 days in office.
STELCO previously conducted a program for providing solar panels to households on an instalment basis under the name of "Green Life." But the program was halted in 2020 after the company's management changed.
