Project to provide oil for large vessels to commence in Haa Alif Atoll

State Trading Organization (STO) has announced a project to build a docking and oiling station for large vessels travelling through the Maldives, including an oil storage facility, to commence in Haa Alif atoll.

Managing Director of State Trading Organization Plc Shahid Ali said the project, which to be carried out in conjunction with an international company, is to be carried out on an island in Haa Alif atoll. He did not however mention the name of the company, or the name of the island for the project. When asked about the capacity of the oil storage facility, Shahid said that it is difficult to disclose such information as they are currently in the process of carrying out studies. Some media sources have however reported Shahid to say that the storage facility will hold a capacity of 20,000 tons of oil.

“We have not yet decided on its size. We are in a studies process. A size will be determined after reflecting on the demand. We think that during it first phase, it will be bigger than Funadhoo,” said Shahid.

He also it is hard to say a date for the commencement of the project, as they are still in the process conducting studies.

The announcement by STO comes not long after the president, during a speech to the people Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, said that a project is soon to be launched to establish a station to provide oil and other services to large vessels passing through the country. The president also said that negotiations for the project are currently ongoing with an international company and that surveys for the project also is soon to begin. He this project will bring a large number of jobs to the Bodu-Thiladhunmathi area.