Thilafushi Chemical Storage Warehouse built by Greater Male Industrial Zone was awarded to SJ Construction for a price that was higher than the estimate, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In a letter sent to the Parliament Committee on State owned Enterprises, the ACC noted that the project was awarded to SJ Construction while there was another party who showed interest and proposed to carry out the new project.

An estimate by GIMZL put the project cost about MVR 7.7 million however SJ Construction proposed to do the work for MVR 9.5 million. AJE Construction however proposed a total cost of MR 4.3 million. ACC further noted that the project was awarded to SJ Construction at a time when the commission had advised GIMZL to halt the processes related to it.

It further noted that the project was awarded to SJ for their short deadline for work, which is where AJE fell short of points.

Managing Director of GIMZL Ibrahim Rasheed Aboo Bakur revealed to "One" that the management had decided to with the cost-effective partner, however the decision to award the project to SJ was made by the board.

The decision to shift chemical storage facilities out of Male’ has been expedited after the Cabinet’s decision on the matter following the tragic fire incident in the Henveyru district last September, which claimed the life of one individual and destroyed several buildings and homes beyond use.

Thilafushi Chemical Storage Warehouse built by GMIZL contains 34 go-downs, with storage units of 300 to 800 square feet in area.