Laamu Fishermen Near Ice Boost as Maabaidhoo Plant Hits 85% Mark

Construction of the landmark ice plant in L. Maabaidhoo has crossed the 85 percent completion mark, moving the long-awaited project into its final development phase, the Ministry of Fisheries Agriculture and Ocean Resources confirmed.

According to the Ministry, on-site contractors are currently installing electrical panel boards, setting up internal power integration, and wrapping up architectural finishing works. Once civil and electrical works conclude, the facility will undergo mechanical pre-commissioning and trial testing before officially commencing commercial production.

The project is financed under the bilateral "Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects through Local Bodies" (HICDP) framework. Implemented in partnership with the Indian High Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MVR 4.2 million grant-funded development is designed to deliver direct, decentralized socio-economic benefits to island communities.

Key Facility Specifications & Community Impact

• Production Capacity: 25 metric tons of ice daily.

• Storage Capacity: 50 metric tons of built-in cold storage.

• Operational Scope: Directly serving local pole-and-line tuna vessels, reef fishermen, and regional transport dhonis across Laamu Atoll.

For years, fishermen across Laamu Atoll have faced persistent ice shortages during peak fishing seasons, often forcing vessels to burn expensive fuel traveling to distant regional hubs or landing sites just to preserve their catch. The new plant in Maabaidhoo will bridge this infrastructure gap, cutting operating overheads and ensuring fishermen maintain unbroken cold-chain freshness from ocean to market.

The Maabaidhoo facility forms part of the government’s wider nationwide strategy to expand cold-chain networks and eliminate supply bottlenecks across key fishing hubs in the Maldives.