Government to set up ice plants on 15 more islands, minister says

The government plans to establish ice plant services on 15 more islands, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture, and Marine Resources Ahmed Shiyam said.

Five plants have already been built and brought into operation, the minister told a press conference at the President's Office on Tuesday.

Shiyam said weak fish processing and storage capacity were among the challenges facing fishermen when the current government took office. He said the government had since worked to address those gaps.

A 25-tonne ice plant has been built in Gaaf Alif Dhevvadhoo, the minister said. Plants with 30-tonne storage capacity have been built in Shaviyani Funadhoo, Dhaalu Meedhoo, Dhaalu Bandidhoo and Gaaf Alif Gemanafushi.

Shiyam said work on a 60-tonne cold storage facility in Meemu Veyvah and a 25-tonne facility in Laamu Maabaidhoo would be completed and brought into service by the end of this year.

The 15 new plants will be built under a contractor finance model. The work is now at the stage of being awarded to contractors.

These include a 5-tonne plant in Baa Kudarikilu, 10-tonne plants in Laamu Hithadhoo and Laamu Maavah, and 30-tonne plants in Gaaf Alif Nilandhoo, Shaviyani Komandoo, Gaaf Alif Viligili, Gaaf Alif Dhaandhoo, Meemu Mulah, Dhaalu Hulhudheli, Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi, Kaafu Gaafaru, Haa Alif Dhidhdhoo, Alif Alif Rasdhoo and Gaaf Dhaal Rathafandhoo. A 40-tonne plant will be built in Lhaviyani Naifaru.

The minister said the cold storage capacity at Felivaru was being increased from 50 tonnes to 100 tonnes.

Shiyam shared details of other projects. Land reclamation work was underway for a 100-tonne cold storage facility in Gaaf Dhaal Fiyoaree, he said. Work was also progressing on a 50-tonne cold storage facility and an accompanying harbour at a fish factory in Faafu Nilandhoo.

The minister said securing a good price for fish was a government priority. He said fish caught during seasonal periods needed to be stored so it could be exported in consolidated volumes.

Shiyam said the government had decided to build a facility in Hulhumale capable of processing 100 tonnes of fish. The agreement for that project would be signed next week, he said.