The pilot boat and tugboat required to begin bunkering services at Ihavandhippolhu, the northern most region of the Maldives, have docked at the Kulhudhuffushi Port, Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has confirmed. Mohamed Wajeeh Ibrahim, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the state-owned enterprise, along with other senior officials at MPL, welcomed the captains and crew of the two vessels with a water salute on Friday.
MPL is fully operationalised to provide bunkering services and will prioritise efforts on a national level, Ibrahim said. President Mohamed Muizzu had earlier presented the project as key in diversifying the nation’s revenue streams and eliminating reliance on tourism alone.
MPL is leading the international bunkering services project and construction of administrative spaces required for the project are currently underway and will be completed by 15 August, MPL said.
Due to the Maldives’ geographical location, more than 300 vessels sail through the Ihavandhippolhu region daily with severely limited facilities available to them — the bunkering initiative is uniquely suited to capitalise on the challenges faced by vessels navigating within the region.
Bunkering services for the project will be provided by Vitol, a Swiss-based Dutch multinational energy company, which has a proven international track record. Vitol is set to provide bunkers and tugs which will be supplied with fuel by the state-owned enterprise, State Trading Organization (STO). According to the Muizzu administration, starting July next year, bunkering services will bring in US$400 million into the Maldives annually.
MPL has additionally recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Uligan Council for the construction of a yacht marina at Uligan Island, in Haa Aflifu (HA.) Atoll — also within Ihavandhippolhu.
