The reclamation of seven hectares of land for a new fish canning factory on the northern coast of Nilandhoo on Faafu Atoll is nearing completion, local officials said, marking a significant step in the administration’s efforts to expand the industrial capacity of the fisheries sector.
The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company commenced practical operations for the infrastructure initiative, encompassing land reclamation and harbour construction, in March of this year. Ali Ahmed, the president of the Nilandhoo Council, said approximately 80 per cent of the reclamation is finished, noting that the revetment wall and harbour development are proceeding in tandem with those efforts.
Once operational, the factory will process and can 50 tonnes of fish daily, according to the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources. A 1,500-metric-tonne cold storage facility will also be constructed as part of the broader project.
"A major economic project was launched in this region, entirely unanticipated by the public," Ahmed remarked, noting that reclamation, revetment installation, and harbour construction are underway. "We have been given the encouraging news that as these initial phases near completion, the subsequent stages of the project will commence."
The initiative aligns with an administration objective to increase fish canning capacity, as distinct projects advance the broader fisheries sector nationwide.