The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) expects to resolve challenges in securing construction materials within the next three to four months, allowing work on development projects across the islands to accelerate, Managing Director Ahmed Saudee said.
Speaking to PSM News, Saudee said many of the projects awarded to MTCC involve land reclamation. He said the company is carrying out reclamation works using six dredgers, including a large dredger.
Saudee said an additional 16 million cubic metres of material still needs to be reclaimed using a hopper dredger.
To complete the work, the company needs to lease another dredger. He noted that leasing a dredger for 10 months under current market conditions would require a payment of USD 105 million to a foreign party. Despite the significant cost involved, he said the company is developing plans to complete the reclamation projects.
"We are using cutter suction dredgers and hopper dredgers. Cutter suction dredgers are currently being used for the reclamation projects in Baa Thuladhoo and Laamu Maavah. Reclamation works will also continue in Gaafu Dhaalu Madaveli and Gaafu Dhaalu Faresmaathoda. The large dredger is being used for the reclamation project in Girifushi," Saudee said.
Saudee also highlighted challenges affecting airport development projects, noting that changes to project scopes after work has commenced have contributed to delays in completing projects.
He explained that the increase in the size of aircraft currently operated by Maldivian has required runways under development to be enlarged beyond their originally planned dimensions. Saudee said similar scope changes have affected ongoing projects, adding that the Alifushi Airport development project is now being prepared as a new project following revisions to its scope.
Saudee also said MTCC has been contracted to upgrade health centres and hospitals across the country. He noted that many of those projects are scheduled for completion by the end of next year.
He said the company has identified the work required to advance the projects and the materials needed to complete them. Efforts are continuing to overcome the current difficulties in procuring those materials, and Saudee said the challenges affecting the supply of materials required for projects in the atolls are expected to be resolved within the next three to four months, allowing work on those projects to progress at a faster pace.