Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has commenced trials on the fuel tanks at the revolutionary 'Fuel Farm' being established at Velana International Airport.
MACL said one out of the three fuel tanks has already been tested and inspected and tests are being conducted on the remaining two tanks.
MACL began constructing the Fuel Farm during April last year. Part one of the farm has three fuel tanks, and is designed in such a way that additional tanks can be added when required. While the current fuel storage capacity of the entire airport is 15,000 metric tonnes, the same amount can be stored in each fuel tank in the farm. With each tank having a height of 44 feet and circumference of 121 feet, the fuel storage capacity at the airport would reach 45,000 metric tonne by the end of the project.
Under this project, an 8.4 kilometer 'Fuel Hydrant' has been installed under the airport to fuel aircraft. After the system is implemented, fuel trucks will no longer be needed to fuel aircraft.
The US$ 373 million project was contracted to China's Beijing Urban Construction Group (BUCG). The company is also developing a 3400-meter long runway under the project. The government's entire airport development project is projected to cost over US$ 800 million.
Fuel tanks at VIA: Each tank can store 15,000 metric tonnes of fuel - Photo: MACL
