The State Trading Organization (STO) currently imports fuel that is free of harmful chemicals, into the Maldives, says Managing Director Hussain Amru.
STO’s MD made these remarks while speaking at the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum hosted by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, themed “Evolving Trade Towards Regional Cooperation, Sustainability and Inclusivity”.
As such, noting that STO is the largest entity in the Maldives which provides security, fuel security, food security and medical security, to the entire country, apart from several other industries that are involved.
Amru highlighted that STO takes initiatives and responsibility in the fields that they operate in, such as bringing fuel to generate power across the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives.
Stating that each island has its own power generator which uses diesel, Amru noted that diesel has many elements one of which is sulfur, an element which not only damages the environment but is also hazardous to humans.
As such, Amru stressed that they used to bring in fuel which was high in sulfur, an element that affects the respiratory system and even causes cancer.
However, the company has since taken the high road and begun importing fuel with much less sulfur content, despite it being a lot more costly.
We used to bring high-sulfur fuel which is of course cheaper, but we have come down from 2.5 percent sulfur content to 0.01 percent sulfur content, it is expensive but we have actually done that.”Hussain Amru, STO MD.
Amru went on to highlight that STO has also established a fuel laboratory, to ensure that no “dirty” fuel ends up in the Maldives.
The STO MD shed light on the significance of measuring and reporting on sustainability, in order to encourage firms to actually pro-actively start greener initiatives or do things “much greener”, and “much cleaner”.
We at STO take sustainability reporting like religion, it actually creates awareness and also most importantly, it actually continuously reminds us not to lose focus on the issues of climate change.”Hussain Amru, STO MD.
