Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has stated that the implementation of controls on jet fuel sales will not affect the management of flight operations.
Speaking at a press conference held by MACL and State Trading Organisation (STO), Deputy Managing Director Ibrahim Thoha said MACL’s fuel capacity is 13 million litres and that the company needs more fuel due to the high amount of flight traffic currently experienced at Velana International Airport (VIA). He, however, said that the company will be able to manage until the arrival of the new fuel shipment.
Furthermore, Thoha noted that the unavailability of jet fuel from Colombo, Sri Lanka, has resulted in more fuel usage at VIA. He said it was a challenge but that MACL is assisting the airlines in a controlled manner and that all flights landing at VIA are being provided with fuel in controlled quantities.
Also at the press conference, Managing Director of STO Hussain Amr said that fuel loading is time intensive but that the current delays in providing fuel is not a hindrance to the management of flight operations. He also said that numerous flights are being diverted to the Middle East due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and that the flights are also experiencing delays due to bad weather but that these types of issues tend to occur and will not affect flight operations.
STO has increased the price of petrol and diesel sold in the Maldives in response to the changes in the world economy. The state-owned company previously attributed the changes in fuel prices to the fluctuations in global fuel prices due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM) is now selling a litre of petrol for USD1.07 and a litre of diesel for USD1.09 as per the latest changes. The changes have raised the price of a litre of petrol by USD0.13 and a litre of diesel by USD0.13. STO last changed the price of petrol and diesel sold on March 5, requiring FSM to sell a litre of petrol for USD0.95 and a litre of diesel for USD0.96.
STO stated it was necessary to hike the price of diesel over the fluctuations in global prices in order to provide customers with diesel without interruption. The government is also undertaking several efforts to minimise the impact of the hike in prices of fuel and other commodities in the global market. As such, a large amount is being spent on fuel subsidies.