EMEA News
Mauritius Aiming to be 1 Million MT Per Year Global Bunkering Hub
Mauritius' future plans for its burgeoning bunkering industry include reaching the milestone of exporting one million metric tonnes (mt) of bunker fuel per year, in addition to employing 25,000 people across the marine industry, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) said in an emailed statement.
The country reportedly exported roughly 270,000 mt of fuel in 2013 and roughly 290,000 mt in 2014.
IBIA said that Mauritius has been working to liberalise bunker trade in the country and create a "business-friendly environment," and has also removed several charges and duties while making it quicker to issue bunkering licences and import permits.
"The government has taken the strategic decision to develop the petroleum industry as a core pillar of its economic plan," said IBIA CEO Peter Hall during the IBIA Conference in Port Louis earlier this month.
The government has also reportedly been actively pushing younger generations to consider careers in the maritime industry.
"This development could be a significant economic accelerator for the country, as ships that stop for fuel spend on other services," Hall said.
"In fact, it is estimated that at current prices, for every $100 spent on fuel, an additional $100 is spent in the local economy, on direct and indirect services such as agency fees, port charges and deliveries to the ship and crew transfers, hotels, career development, finance bunker trading, to just mention a few."
Earlier this month, Hall also noted that the country's potential to become an international bunkering supplier and hub was "significant."
