Fuel for fishermen at STO rate from four new locations starting tomorrow

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu states fuel will be made available for fishermen at STO rate in four new locations starting from tomorrow.

Facilitating fuel for fishermen at STO rate across all atolls is an electoral pledge of the President. Currently, fishermen can only purchase fuel at the STO rate from the FSM fuel shed in Hulhumale’. The facility has been selling fuel for fishermen at this rate since June of this year.

President Muizzu, as part of his ongoing tour to some islands Kaafu Atoll and Alifu Alifu Atoll, visited K. Gaafaru on Monday. Speaking during a meeting with the island’s residents, he identified the four additional locations where fuel will be available at STO rate for fishermen as K. Himmafushi, Addu City’s Hulhumeedhoo, Kooddoo and Felivaru.

Fuel will be sold to fishermen at STO rate via FSM outlets established at the aforesaid locations.

President Muizzu noted that the government was also undertaking efforts to sell fuel for fishermen at STO rate via the state fisheries company’s boats based at Kooddoo and Felivaru.

“By proceeding in this trajectory, fuel will be made available across Maldives at STO rate will be ensured by the end of 2025,” he said, while providing his administration’s commitment to listen to the concerns of fishermen and act accordingly.

Speaking further, President Muizzu noted that efforts were underway to formulate a fishermen’s registry. He said the regulation pertaining to the registry will be gazetted this Thursday which would legislatively empower the fishermen’s registry.

As per the President, fishermen signing up for this registry will be eligible for loan facilities from Bank of Maldives (BML), Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) and State Trading Organization (STO) among others.

Apart from this, President Muizzu said fishermen will begin receiving payments within 48 hours starting from Tuesday; another electoral pledge of his.

In this regard, he detailed that fishing boats that have opened bank accounts at the BML will receive payments within 48 hours of sale of their catch under an agreement executed between the government and the bank.