Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has announced that the construction of the fuel farm at Velana International Airport (VIA) to boost its oil storage capacity has commenced.

According to Maldives Airports Company Limited,the project will see a total of 3 tanks with a diameter of 37 meters in each, built which would in total hold a capacity of 45 million tons of fuel.

Fuel farm construction has been assigned to China originated Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG) which also handles the development of the new runway and a new cargo terminal. The total cost of all projects reach USD 373 million dollars.

While the construction of new oil tanks is underway, the company has also started trenching work on the locations where connecting pipes have to be installed in order to supply fuel needed for the jet refuelling stations. The pipes would cross a length of about 8.4 kilometres.