MALDIVES: Maldives National Energy Policy and Strategy 2010

Meta Data
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Effective Start Year: 
2010
Effective End Year: 
2016
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Overarching Policy, Plan/Strategy
Economic Sector: 
Energy, Power
Energy Types: 
All, Power, Renewable, Bioenergy, Solar, Wind, Other
Issued by: 
Ministry of Housing and Environment
Source: 
Ministry of Environment and Energy, Republic of Maldives
File: 
Maldives National Energy Policy and Strategy 2010
Overall Summary: 
The Maldives National Energy Policy was issued in 2010 and provides for an overview on the current energy supply and utilization in Maldives, along with energy policies statements. It also address the need to strengthen the national institutional and legal framework of the energy sector.
Access
Energy access priorities: 
Creating an enabling environment for the growth of a reliable and sustainable energy sector and meet the constitutional obligation of Government in the provision of electricity to every inhabited island at reasonable standards commensurate to the island.--- The Government recognizes that adequate energy supplies are important for food security, the delivery of essential public services, social equity and protection of vulnerable groups including women and children, governance and for economic growth throughout all its inhabited islands, and as such the Government considers energy security a right of every citizen and is committed to the provision of energy resources at the lowest cost to all Maldivians.
Energy service quality targets: 
Introduce disincentive mechanisms to maintain a minimum standard of quality in the supply of energy products and services
Consumer subsidies: 
Establish a transparent mechanism to provide targeted subsidies to vulnerable groups to ensure access to basic energy at affordable prices.
Efficiency
EE priorities: 
Improve energy efficiency and conservation of energy use.
EE action plans: 
Encourage energy efficiency in both the supply and the demand side through financial and other incentives/disincentives in respect of energy end-use and mandatory measures such as appliance energy labelling, building codes and energy audits.---Establish, apply and monitor targets to maintain energy source composition, efficiency and losses to achieve and sustain carbon neutrality.
EE transport standards : 
Identify all areas for improvement and provide technical advice in fuel conservation and efficiency in different modes of transport including marine and air transportation.---Introduce incentives to encourage greater use of electric vehicles and vessels by establishing charging stations using renewable energy sources.---Ensure diversification in fuel consumption in the transport sector.
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs): 
Ensure compliance of energy sector utility companies and other energy service providers with safety standards issued by Maldives Energy Authority as well as environmental standards stipulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
EE public awareness/promotional programmes: 
Implement advocacy and awareness programs to foster healthier and greener attitudes and behaviour in our society.---Carry out awareness programs on energy efficiency and conservation as a priority and on a sustainable basis.
Renewable Energy
RE priorities: 
Exploit local energy resources and renewable technologies.
RE action plans: 
Encourage utilization of waste heat from power generation for other applications (e.g. water heating, air conditioning, desalination).---Ensure fuel diversity in electricity generation through diversification in power generation technologies that do not use hydrocarbon fuels.
RE heat obligation/mandate: 
Encourage utilization of waste heat from power generation for other applications (e.g. water heating, air conditioning, desalination).
RE capital subsidy, grant, or rebate: 
Assist the development of the renewable energy sector in increasing its contribution to the energy supply through the introduction of incentives/and or access to green funding that will attract the participation of the private sector.
Cooperation in RE: 
-Seek concessionary external financing to improve economic feasibility for renewable energy projects that are environmentally and social sound.
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
Creating an enabling environment for the growth of a reliable and sustainable energy sector and meet the constitutional obligation of Government in the provision of electricity to every inhabited island at reasonable standards commensurate to the island.---Establish an environmental division in every energy sector utility company staffed by qualified personnel able to conduct environmental safety audits of existing and new facilities to ensure compliance with the standards and regulations under the National Environment Act.
Pollution control action plans: 
Promoting carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) by conducting research and development of CCS projects necessary for the reduction of GHG emissions.
Decarbonization strategy: 
Encourage the adoption of low carbon technologies in production, distribution and energy consumption through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.---Develop and implement plans for the energy sector to include forecasts of energy usage by different sources, efficiency and losses to achieve and sustain carbon neutrality.
Green finance: 
Assist the development of the renewable energy sector in increasing its contribution to the energy supply through the introduction of incentives/and or access to green funding that will attract the participation of the private sector.
Pricing
Energy pricing: 
Formulate and implement pricing strategies to achieve a cost-reflective pricing policy for all commercial energy products.---Formulate and implement optimal energy supply plans for the energy sector to ensure cost-reflective prices.
Energy Supply and Infrastructure
Energy supply priorities: 
Reduce overreliance of the energy sector and the national economy on fossil fuels through the diversification of energy supplies.---The Government recognizes that adequate energy supplies are important for food security, the delivery of essential public services, social equity and protection of vulnerable groups including women and children, governance and for economic growth throughout all its inhabited islands, and as such the Government considers energy security a right of every citizen and is committed to the provision of energy resources at the lowest cost to all Maldivians.
Infrastructure development priorities: 
Reduce the overreliance of the energy sector and the national economy on fossil fuels through the diversification of energy supplies.---Exploit local energy resources and renewable technologies.---Develop and maintain fuel reserves in strategic locations of the country.---Facilitate the implementation of a nationwide electricity grid.
Trade
Energy trade priorities: 
Diversify sources of fossil fuels for imports.
Investment
Energy sector investment priorities: 
Source national and international investments to develop and sustain the energy sector.
Financial incentives for energy infrastructure: 
Introduce incentives to power sector developers by facilitating access to grants, concessional finance and duty concessions to assure affordability of energy supply.
Investment climate development: 
Engage private sector participation in the development of the energy sector, energy services and quality assurance mechanisms.---Source national and international investments to develop and sustain the energy sector.---Engage and facilitate private sector participation in providing expertise and specialised services needed to increase energy efficiency across sectors.---Identify feasible regions and open the fuel market for investors.---Seek concessionary external financing to improve economic feasibility for renewable energy projects that are environmentally and social sound.---Assist the development of the renewable energy sector in increasing its contribution to the energy supply through the introduction of incentives/and or access to green funding that will attract the participation of the private sector.
Governance
Energy management principles: 
Ensure energy equity through social protection mechanisms and/or safety nets for vulnerable groups of the population.---Prepare for emergency supply needs by developing a reserve stock of energy.---Empower Maldives Energy Authority (MEA) to regulate the energy sector and the pricing policy.
National policy structure: 
Protect the rights of energy utilizing customers through the formulation and adoption of a law and/or regulations.---Standardise the quality of services provided by energy suppliers through the formulation and adoption of a law and/or regulations.
Energy institutional structures: 
Improve the capacity of the Ministry that is mandated for the energy sector in a sustainable manner ensuring continuity of capacity development to strengthen the Ministry in developing integrated long-term energy plans and conducting policy analysis for the energy sector.---Improve the capacity within the Provincial Utility companies to enhance and expand their contribution to energy supply development.
Public database availability: 
Develop and manage a national energy database.
Technology
Clean energy technology priorities: 
Exploit local energy resources and renewable technologies.---Ensure fuel diversity in electricity generation through diversification in power generation technologies that do not use hydrocarbon fuels.
Clean energy technology transfer: 
Facilitate research and development and technology transfer programs to aid the exchange of innovative ideas.
Clean energy technology deployment: 
Encourage utilization of waste heat from power generation for other applications (e.g. water heating, air conditioning, desalination).
R&D renewable energy: 
Facilitate and provide research opportunities for locals and international parties through the establishment of a platform for information exchange on potential renewable energy sources and their application within the country.