The government has announced its decision to sell fuel to fishermen at STO rates from four regions of the Maldives starting tomorrow.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced this during his ongoing tour of several islands in Ari Atoll and Male' Atoll, while addressing the residents of K. Gaafaru this morning.
The President stated that arranging the availability of fuel at STO rates in at least one island of every atoll in the Maldives is a pledge he made to the citizens, and the work to organize this began early last November.
"Distributed over the coming year, a station will be built at STO rates in some atoll every month and services will begin from there. So, by the end of 2025, fuel will be available at STO rates in every atoll across the entire Maldives, exactly as promised," the President said.
The President stated that until arrangements are made for fuel to be available from all regions, easy ways for fishermen to get fuel have been arranged for the time being. Accordingly, starting tomorrow, fishermen will be able to get diesel at STO rates from FSM sites in K. Himmafushi, GA. Kooddoo, Lh. Felivaru, and Addu City Hulhumeedhoo. Furthermore, the President said work is underway to arrange fuel availability at STO rates from boats operated by MIFCO's Kooddoo and Felivaru, and from regions deemed most crucial at this time.
"Bringing some changes to the plans set for different regions, thinking about strategically prioritized places, for example, when traveling from Huvadhu Atoll to Male', around M. Atoll in the middle, and similarly in the north, looking at the halfway distance, to expedite the availability of fuel at STO rates. So we are doing such work as well," the President said.
Noting that he recently met with fishing captains, the President said he will work to listen to the fishermen's voices and do things as they request.
As a basic service, arranging the availability of petrol and diesel to citizens at STO rates in at least one island of every atoll in the Maldives is included in President Dr. Muizzu's manifesto and is also a presidential pledge. The four regions announced today are part of the government's ongoing efforts to fulfill this pledge. The project to establish fuel storages so that fuel is available at STO rates from all regions of the Maldives was inaugurated on November 7 this year. While STO has begun the practical work of this project, the company's target is to arrange fuel availability in 19 islands before February 2026.
STO is currently selling a liter of diesel through Fahi Hakatha at a rate of 13 Rufiyaa 29 Laari.
