Minister of Construction and Infrastructure Abdullah Muththalib has clarified the Maagiri mentioned in the notice for the relocation of the fuel storage facility is not to the popular diving location near Sheraton Maldives.
The government stated yesterday that the fuel storage in K. Funadhoo would be relocated to Maagiri, which is located close to Thilafushi. This decision was announced yesterday at a press conference, as the government moves to establish a Special Economic Zone in Funadhoo and develop an area to provide international financial services.
The Principal Secretary on Public Policy, Abdullah Nazim, told a news conference at the President's Office yesterday that the State Trading Organization (STO) will relocate the fuel storage facility in Funadhoo to Maagiri.
Minister Muththalib clarifies location of new fuel storage facility.
Ecocare Maldives, an environmental advocacy group, tweeted that the government's decision to relocate the fuel storage facility in Funadhoo to Maagiri is a matter of concern.
The association said in a post on X that Maagiri has seven dive spots. The spots are rich in marine life and crustaceans, the association said.
The dive spots are located near the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort in the Malé Atoll. The Maagiri, where the oil tankers are relocated, is located near Thilafushi.
"The Maagiri where the oil storage is being converted is a dead reef. There will be no dive spot or surfing point. So the proposed location and the island they are referring to are two different islands," he said.
The minister further said that the timeline for the relocation of the oil storage from Funadhoo to Maagiri has now been formulated. The work will be done according to the timeline, he said.