Malta's facilities were strong; fuel was the weak point

What facilities did Malta have for supporting Force K?

Malta had deep dockyard and store capacity, but fuel shortages limited sustained operations and planned underground tanks were unfinished.

Malta had served as the Royal Navy's principal Mediterranean fleet base for almost a century. That long investment left extensive dockyard facilities and stores even under heavy bombing. The island did not lack naval infrastructure. Fuel was the critical shortage, and planned underground storage had not yet been completed when war arrived early.