The cold storage facility being established at Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO)’s main production hub, Felivaru of Lhaviyani Atoll, is expected to be completed and operational by mid-year, the company’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Farhath Shareef has said.
The project is part of the Felivaru Expansion Project, awarded to an Indian company. The expansion will enable fishermen in the north to sell their catch directly to Felivaru, reducing the need for long trips to Kooddoo and significantly cutting fuel costs.
Speaking on PSM’s Raajje Miadhu programme, Farhath said a new cannery is being built to replace the existing facility, which has a 40-50 tonne capacity. The new cannery will be accompanied by an expansion of cold storage by about 4,500 tonnes, he said.
According to MIFCO, a 200-tonne brine freezing system and 80-tonne RSW system will be established with the cold storage upgrade. This will enable Felivaru to process an additional 280 tonnes of fish per day.