Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has stated the services of the new fuel farm and cargo terminal complex at Velana International Airport (VIA) will begin this year.
Efforts are currently ongoing for the project to develop and expand VIA. Some of the components of the USD1 billion expansion project include installing a new fuel hydrant system, developing a new fuel farm, establishing a designated area for cargo, and development of a new passenger terminal building.
MACL stated that 95% of the fuel farm area has been completed and that the current work involves testing the electrical and firefighting systems as well as the security and CCTV systems. The company stated that workers are now being trained and that services at the fueling station will begin before the end of the month.
The new fuel farm area is three times larger than the current fuel farm and has the capacity to store 45 million litres of jet fuel, one million litres of diesel, and one million litres of petrol. The new fuel farm is expected to decrease the time taken to refuel airlines.
Furthermore, MACL stated the new cargo terminal complex is 93% completed and that the current work involves installing fences and installing machinery and the information and communications technology network. It stated that the testing phase will be completed in September. The new cargo terminal is expected to process 120,000 tonnes of cargo per year, which is 50% higher than the current cargo terminal.
Additionally, the cargo harbour under development next to the new cargo terminal has been 98% completed, according to the MACL.