The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has opened invitations for proposals to lease newly developed chemical warehouses in Thilafushi, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and relocate hazardous storage facilities away from residential areas.

The relocation, prompted by a hazardous incident in October 2019 involving a chemical warehouse in Malé, led the Government to begin removing all chemical storage units from the capital. At the time, there were more than 120 chemical warehouses operating in the city.

To facilitate the relocation, HDC has constructed two dedicated buildings in Thilafushi, offering a total of 16 warehouse units for lease. Of these, 14 units span over 990 square feet and are equipped with remote-controlled shutters. Bidding for the units is scheduled to take place on 20 August 2025.

According to HDC, the newly developed warehouses meet modern safety standards and are designed with fire-resistant partitions and structures that can withstand fire for up to 90 minutes. Each facility is equipped with fire extinguishing systems, CCTV surveillance, security rooms, lightning protection systems, and other essential safety features. The warehouses have also been developed in compliance with security standards set by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).