State Electric Company (STELCO) has recognised two veteran employees retiring after 48 years and 37 years of service, with Managing Director Dr Ali Azwar highlighting the lasting contribution they have made to the company and generations of employees who worked alongside them.
The company held an appreciation ceremony on Wednesday for Service Engineer Mohamed Manik, who is retiring after 48 years at STELCO, and Assistant Service Engineer Ahmed Maumoon, who concludes a 37-year career with the state utility.
Together, the two employees have contributed 85 years of service to the company.
Speaking at the ceremony, Azwar said the retirement of employees with decades of experience represents a significant loss to an organisation, particularly because the knowledge accumulated over such long careers cannot easily be replaced.
He noted that while machinery can be upgraded, new engines can be purchased and infrastructure can be renovated as the company develops, institutional experience built over decades is considerably more difficult to reproduce.
According to Azwar, long-serving employees carry an understanding of the organisation that becomes particularly valuable when addressing operational challenges and making decisions based on lessons learned from previous situations.
He described this institutional memory as an important foundation for STELCO as the company continues to expand its operations and respond to changing demands in the electricity sector.
However, Azwar said the contribution of retiring employees does not end with their departure from the company, as much of their knowledge and experience has already been passed on to younger colleagues.
He said Manik and Maumoon leave behind a strong legacy through the employees they have trained, guided and worked with over their lengthy careers.
The two engineers’ service spans several decades of significant change in the Maldives’ electricity sector, during which demand for electricity has grown alongside population, urban development and economic activity.
STELCO is responsible for electricity generation and distribution across its service areas, including the Greater Malé region, where rapidly expanding residential and commercial development has continued to place additional demands on power infrastructure.
The company has been working to expand generation capacity and strengthen its electricity network as demand increases. Its current development efforts include additional generation infrastructure in Hulhumalé as part of preparations to meet future electricity requirements across the Greater Malé area.
STELCO has also placed increasing emphasis on developing local technical expertise. The company recently revealed that its engineering workforce is entirely Maldivian, while Managing Director Azwar has highlighted training and professional development as priorities for building the next generation of technical personnel.
The retirement of Manik and Maumoon comes against that backdrop, with the company recognising not only their combined 85 years of service but also the technical knowledge and experience they have transferred to employees who will continue their work.
