The Minister of Fisheries Agriculture and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, addressing Parliament today, revealed that the ongoing cold storage expansion project at Lh. Felivaru is targeted for full completion and operational readiness before December.
Addressing parliamentarians regarding delays faced by the critical fisheries infrastructure development, Minister Shiyam explained that the project faced logistical hurdles due to contractor performance issues.
"The cold storage project in Lh. Felivaru was awarded to an Indian company, Rinac. There are no other reasons for delays except that the project is proceeding under the Indian Line of Credit (LOC) facility through Exim Bank of India," Minister Shiyam stated during his address.
"The biggest reason for the delay is that the company is new to the Maldives. Operating in the Maldives, especially logistically, has posed significant challenges for them. While they have resolved many of these issues over time, several logistical obstacles remained," he added.
The Minister highlighted that his ministry, in close collaboration with the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), has actively intervened to assist the contractor with logistical support, clear administrative hurdles, and keep the timeline on track. He expressed optimism that following contractor extensions through November, the expanded facility will be ready to serve the nation’s fisheries sector before December.
Background
The Felivaru Cold Storage Expansion Project is a major government initiative designed to upgrade the primary processing hub of MIFCO in Lhaviyani Atoll. Contracted to India’s Rinac India Limited in early 2023, the USD 23 million project is financed under a Line of Credit (LOC) extended by the Exim Bank of India.
Key developments included under the project encompass:
4,000-Tonne Cold Storage: Significantly increasing MIFCO's total storage capacity to accommodate high catch volumes during peak fishing seasons.
Brine Freezing System: A 200-tonne capacity daily brine freezing unit to rapidly preserve incoming catch.
Refrigerated Seawater (RSW) System: An 80-tonne RSW system for optimal temperature control during fish handling.
The project aims to resolve long-standing bottlenecks in the northern fishing region, enabling local fishermen to sell their catch directly to Felivaru without having to travel long distances to southern facilities like Kooddoo, thereby cutting down fuel costs and preserving fish quality.
