A trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) three times larger than MTCC's existing dredger will be brought before the end of this year to accelerate reclamation projects, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said last night.

Speaking on PSM’s “Nations Chat” podcast, President Muizzu said the conflict in the Middle East was the biggest obstacle to the government’s development projects and its 20-year development master plan.

He said strengthening the management and capacity of state-owned companies was a priority, including increasing the capacity of MTCC, which is responsible for implementing many government projects.

“MTCC needs ways to get foreign currency, dollars. Soon they will bring in boulder rock and imported materials for their projects and then we will see the projects going on,” he said.

President Muizzu said the availability of boulder rock and other construction materials would help accelerate projects such as harbor development and coastal protection on several islands.

He said MTCC, which has been entrusted with carrying out reclamation projects, needed greater dredging capacity.

The President said the company had secured a TSHD, “Mahaa Jarraafu”, which is three times larger than the vessel currently used by MTCC.

“A TSHD three times the size of the one that is currently in MTCC has now hopefully been secured. It is hoped to be brought to the Maldives before the end of this year. Once it is brought, the projects given to MTCC which have not been started yet will go at high speed,” President Muizzu said.

President Muizzu also said the merger of MTCC and RDC would accelerate project with the materials brought by RDC for road development being used as well. He said the impact of the merger would begin to be seen next year.