The Government of Mauritius has taken the next steps to develop its capital and largest city Port Louis into a global bunkering hub that will be able to export 1million metric tons of bunker fuel and ultimately employ 25,000 people across the marine industry.
The Minister of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands spoke at the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) conference held in Port Louis on 13th to 15th October and outlined the government’s ambitions for this growing business sector.
Each year 35,000 ships transit the waters around Mauritius moving between Asia, Southern Africa and South America and over the last few years, the number of ships taking on bunker fuel in Port Louis has been increasing.
Last year the volume supplied rose from 269,324 metric tons in 2013 to 287,546 metric tons in 2014, an increase of around 6.8%. However, this figure represents just 30% of the government’s short term goal of 1 million metric tons of bunker exports per year.
To support this growth the government has embarked on an ambitious plan to transform the port into a business friendly, industry leading petroleum and bunkering hub. The bunker trade has been liberalised, with government incentives provided through the reduction and removal of charges and duties and an improved quicker process for issuing bunkering licences and import permits.
The port limits have been extended to provide for sites which would allow the anchorage and furtherance of petroleum based activities, a full feasibility study has been conducted and a master plan developed.
As the Government of Mauritius acknowledges, a successful bunker port will need efficient cargo handling facilities, deep shipping channels, adequate berth and quay capacity and of course a skilled workforce.
Source: IBIA
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