Ice plants previously operated under Fenaka Corporation have been officially handed over to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).
Under the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the operation of 14 ice plants then run by MIFCO was handed over to Fenaka Corporation on September 22, 2022, in the name of reducing losses incurred by MIFCO. The ice plants handed over to Fenaka at the time were located in Addu City Hithadhoo, HA. Ihavandhoo, N. Lhohi, R. Alifushi, B. Thulhaadhoo, F. Feeali, F. Nilandhoo, Th. Hirilandhoo, GA. Dhaandhoo, GA. Dhevvadhoo, GA. Gemanafushi, GA. Kolamaafushi, GDh. Fiyoaree, and GDh. Faresmaathodaa.
The operation of these ice plants has been handed back to MIFCO following Fenaka's decision in August last year to cease ice plant operations, stating that it was a highly loss-making operation for Fenaka. Following that decision, Fenaka, the Fisheries Ministry, and MIFCO have been working together over the past period to assess the facilities, transfer assets, and decide on the course of action regarding the employees stationed there.
After concluding the discussions and various stages of work to hand over the ice plants to MIFCO, the 14 ice plants were officially handed back to MIFCO today. An agreement to hand over the ice plants was signed between the two companies at a ceremony held at Fenaka today. MIFCO's CEO Vitaly Lyubimof signed the agreement on behalf of the company, while Fenaka's Managing Director Muaz Mohamed Rasheed signed on behalf of Fenaka.
Senior officials from MIFCO and Fenaka attended the ceremony held to hand over the ice plants to MIFCO. After officially taking over the ice plants, MIFCO stated today that in the first phase, the company's technical and engineering teams will work to bring all plants to full operational capacity. Noting that this change is an important step taken to strengthen MIFCO's service capacity, the company thanked all parties for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth transition of the ice plants.
Most of the ice plants MIFCO took over today had ceased operations. This is the result of Fenaka's lack of capacity to operate ice plants and the previous management's negligence towards the ice plant service. Three ice plants are damaged beyond use. Furthermore, 8 ice plants are missing their engines. It is unknown what happened to these engines. The buildings of some ice plants are dilapidated, and due to lack of maintenance, major issues have arisen in the interiors and the main systems used for operations.
In any case, identifying the damages currently sustained by the ice plants, repairing them, and procuring missing equipment will be a major challenge for MIFCO. However, MIFCO stated that with the assistance of the Fisheries Ministry and relevant authorities, they will work to bring these ice plants into operation as soon as possible and arrange for fishermen to easily obtain ice.
