Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has decided to build a bulk terminal in Thilafushi, Kaafu Atoll, to ease the space constraints at the Male’ Commercial Harbour. Bulk terminals are used to store large quantities of products and materials.
Speaking to PSM News, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shahid Ali said that the lack of space is a hindrance to port operations and that MPL is implementing solutions as its first priority. He highlighted that the company is handling an operation consisting of 130,000 containers per year in a space that can only handle 50,000 containers.
As such, Shahid said they are overcapacity by threefold and that an agreement has been signed with Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to build the bulk terminal in Thilafushi. He said the facility will be built this year and that it will ease port operations as the number of imports grow. He added that it will be built near the 200m quay wall and will be used to store rock boulders and metal.