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Reference List
Maldives Velana International Airport Upgrading Project
Project Overview
Industry
Construction & Infrastructure
Location
Velana, Maldives
The new international terminal at Velana International Airport (Male Airport) in the Maldives officially opened on July 26, 2025, with a drone show and historic fireworks displays at 19 locations throughout the city. Maldivian President Muizz declared the new terminal, completed on the 60th anniversary of Maldives' independence, as the most important pillar of the country's economic independence.
The new terminal, located adjacent to the now-opened China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, stands like a dazzling pearl in the Indian Ocean. The building is approximately 520 meters long and 86 meters wide, covering an area of approximately 37,000 square meters and a construction area of approximately 80,000 square meters. It has three floors and a roof height of approximately 21.7 meters. It utilizes a combination of reinforced concrete and steel structure. It features advanced facilities, including 47 check-in counters, 6 self-service kiosks, 20 departure immigration counters, 6 boarding gates, and 12 air bridges. It has an annual passenger capacity of over 7 million. It completely replaces the original terminal, which opened in 1981, and represents a significant upgrade in Maldivian airport infrastructure. Caledonian, as a key cable supplier for the airport's power system expansion, provided a comprehensive product line, encompassing medium-voltage power cables, low-voltage power cables, instrument cables, and combination cables. These cables, like the "lifeblood" of the terminal, run through every corner of the building, ensuring power transmission, equipment control, and signal connectivity, from the main grid to terminal equipment. Notably, the medium-voltage, low-voltage, and fire-resistant cables supplied by Caledonian have all passed the rigorous licensing and certification requirements of the Maldives Electricity Authority (MEA). As the definitive standard for market access for power products in the Maldives, MEA certification not only requires compliance with the basic International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specifications but also includes specialized tests for corrosion resistance, insulation stability, and aging resistance, specifically tailored to the island's unique environment of high temperature, high humidity, and high salt spray, ensuring long-term, stable operation in these extreme conditions. This certification not only serves as a testament to the quality of Caledonian's cables, but also strengthens the security of the terminal's power system, ensuring the continuous operation of key airport facilities such as lighting, security equipment, and air conditioning.
From meticulous civil construction to reliable power supply, the close collaboration of all parties has enabled this modern terminal to gradually blossom. Its completion will not only significantly increase the passenger throughput capacity of Velana International Airport, but will also become a key pillar in strengthening the Maldives' status as a regional aviation hub and promoting tourism, injecting tremendous momentum into the development of this nation of thousands of islands.
Caledonian is providing MV power cables, LV power cables, Instrumentation cables and Composite cables for this project.