Male’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport plays an important cargo role for the island nation, but will forever remain insignificant in terms of global air cargo hubs because of the tiny volumes it handles. But this hasn’t stopped it from continuing to expand and modernise.

Capacity will be increased with a new cargo terminal, turning pad and holding loop as well as the relocation and enlargement of the fuel farm. There are no plans to extend the 3.2 km runway although reclamation is already underway to create the extra space the new facilities need.

“We are on track to deliver in summer 2014” Andrew Acquaah Harrison, CEO said in an interview in February. Plans for the new airport to be as green as possible illustrate this archipelago nation – where nowhere is naturally more than two metres above sea-level – knows about global warming and the potential threat it poses to the country.

“The terminal will also be certified to an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Standard” said Harrison. “We are examining the types of green technology we will be using. These could comprise solar, deep sea cooling and potentially wave energy. A lot of research is being done now, we hope to know which ones (we can use) in six to eight months.”

None of this comes cheap and parent company GMR is set to invest US$510 million in the four years 2011 to 2014. Work will be phased but there is “not yet” a decision on service providers, said
Harrison.

Driving long term plans is solid growth in both passenger and cargo
numbers. The Maldives is as Harrison put it “completely import dependent.” “Milk is from Australia and New Zealand, vegetables are from Europe and fruits from Asia.” It is all bellyhold cargo
and as tourist numbers swell so does the need to import more.

The only air export is fish and some farmed sea cucumbers. Harrison estimates that at “thousands of kilos” so the majority of cargo volumes are imports which are expected to grow eight to ten per cent during 2012 shadowing the rise in visitor numbers.

What is unlikely to happen is the Maldives becoming an air cargo hub – the usual role of territories with small populations but central locations. Everything, but everything, including oil has to be imported which means there is no manufacturing. There is also no
surface connectivity, as Harrison pointed out the islands have neither road or rail, and the issue of fuel capacity and storage
weighs down costs and manufacturing. Cargo growth there will be, but the hub ambition must find another Indian Ocean home.