Bunkering service launch delayed again; September 20th estimated new date

State Trading Organization (STO) states bunkering service can be commenced in Ihavandhippolhu on September 20^th.

STO’s Spokesperson told Sun that one of the two boats being brought to commence bunkering service in northern Maldives has harbored at Kulhudhuffushi City. As per the Spokesperson, the boat, named ‘Marine Angel’, has a capacity of 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson said they have been informed that the second boat will arrive in the Maldives before September 15^th, following which bunkering service is expected to commence on September 20^th.

The Spokesperson detailed that STO will be selling fuel as part of the  service while Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) will provide the remaining services.

Bunkering service was initially planned to commence in July. However, STO and MPL executed an agreement following which the date was moved back to Thursday, September 12^th.

STO, on Monday, said the date was moved back again in order to commence the service at a larger extent than previously planned.

Minister of Economic Development Mohamed Saeed earlier said the country's economy will get a significant boost once bunkering services commence.

He previously said that between 300 and 450 international commercial vessels travel across the northern Maldives channel every year. Saeed said providing bunkering services to even one percent of the vessels that traveled the channel would increase the Maldives GDP to USD 400 million in the first year alone.