The bunkering service, which was scheduled to start today with two ships in the north of the Maldives, has been postponed to next month due to a delay in the arrival of the ships.
The service will be launched today, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed said at the Maldives-China (Sichuan) Trade and Investment Cooperation Conference held on August 6 to strengthen trade relations between China and Maldives.
At the conference, Saeed said the bunkering service is the first step in the government's efforts to expand the maritime industry.
The bunkering service can begin within two or three weeks, Saeed announced in February as well. Following that, he said it will begin in July. The deadline passed and he said it would begin on August 22.
However, the bunkering ships have not yet arrived in the Maldives.
Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) CEO Mohamed Wajeeh told TVM on August 8 that the bunkering ships would arrive on August 22.
Although the bunkering service will be provided by the State Trading Organization (STO), most of the essential work needed to launch the service is being carried out by MPL. The work is centered in Haa Alif Uligan island.
The most important work underway in Uligan is the construction of facilities for the army, immigration, customs and port health personnel. Wajeeh said all the work will be completed by August 21.
An official from STO said the bunkering service would not start today but has been delayed to next month. However, he did not give a specific date.
The first of the two bunkering vessels will arrive on September 27 and the second on September 11, a government official said.
Vitol, one of the largest companies in the sector, is involved in the business with STO.
Vitol's role in the bunkering business is to supply fuel to STO's bunkers and to advertise the bunkers. Shortly after signing a term sheet with STO, Vitol included the Maldives on its bunkers' map.
According to reports, STO will start the service with two 4,000 metric tonne bunkers. The government says the business will bring in USD 400 million in the first year.
