IndianOil (Mauritius) Ltd has begun work on a $25 million expansion of its marine bunkering infrastructure at Port Louis, strengthening Mauritius’ ambitions to become a strategic bunkering hub in the Indian Ocean.
The project involves a new 27,500-tonne bunker fuel storage facility at Mer Rouge. The foundation stone was laid by India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during his visit to Mauritius.
The facility will comprise five storage tanks, along with pipeline connectivity to IndianOil Mauritius’ existing terminal, shared utilities and operational infrastructure. The tanks will be designed to API 650 standards and comply with NFPA 30 requirements.
IndianOil Mauritius currently supplies Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to ships. With the expansion, the company aims to increase its bunkering volumes to more than 400 thousand kilolitres by FY2029-30.
Mauritius’ location along major shipping routes linking Asia, Africa and other international markets gives Port Louis strong potential as a regional marine-fuel centre. The country is targeting around 6,000 vessel calls annually, compared with a current average of about 2,200, creating potential bunker demand of 2–3 million tonnes per year.
The expansion is expected to improve fuel storage and supply capabilities at Port Louis while supporting Mauritius’ wider maritime and Blue Economy ambitions. It will also strengthen IndianOil’s international marine-fuel business and India’s energy presence across the Indian Ocean.
The project comes alongside a broader India-Mauritius energy partnership, including a five-year agreement under which IndianOil will supply Mauritius with its import requirements for petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel.