Indian Oil Corporation Ltd has broken ground on a new bunker fuel storage facility at Mer Rouge, Port Louis, Mauritius, according to Ship & Bunker.
India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri laid the foundation stone for the facility, which will have a storage capacity of 27,500 mt, Ship & Bunker reports, citing a social media post from IndianOil made on Saturday.
Investment and Company Background
According to Ship & Bunker, IndianOil’s Mauritius unit will invest $25 million in the project, which is expected to expand the company’s bunker fuel storage and bunkering capabilities in the region.
The report notes that IndianOil was incorporated in 2001 and began physical operations in Mauritius in 2004, where it currently offers a range of services including bunkering.
Supporting Mauritius’ Blue Economy Ambitions
Ship & Bunker reports that the new facility is intended to support Mauritius’ broader push to develop its maritime energy infrastructure and draw more vessel traffic to the country as part of its efforts to grow its Blue Economy.
The timing of the investment follows separate commentary from global fuel supplier Bunker One, which said in May, as reported by Ship & Bunker, that Red Sea diversions and the Middle East conflict had increased bunker demand in Mauritius. Bunker One stated that demand at Port Louis rose by roughly 60% at the start of the Iran war, as vessels rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope.
Does This Matter to You?
This development points to growing bunkering capacity along a route that has seen increased traffic due to Red Sea and Middle East-related diversions. Vessels rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope have reportedly driven higher fuel demand at Port Louis, according to Bunker One’s May comments cited by Ship & Bunker.
An expanded storage facility could support supply reliability for vessels calling at Mauritius on these longer routes. However, the source material does not provide details on when the facility will become operational or how it may affect pricing or availability in the near term.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
