Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the planned project to increase the capacity of the Addu Fisheries Complex (AFC) will commence this year.
During the opportunity opened for members to question the Minister at the third sitting of the first session of the People's Majlis ongoing today, in response to a question posed by MDP member for Addu City Maradhoo constituency Ahmed Didi seeking to clarify a date for the project's commencement, Minister Shiyam stated that the funds required for the project have been secured and that the project's work will begin this year. The Minister also stated that the work will be completed and services will be available from the facility within a year and a half of commencing the work.
While the government has decided to proceed with the work to increase AFC's capacity by including it among the works to be done for the development of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), the funds required for this have been arranged through the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
Currently, AFC can store 1,500 metric tonnes of fish. And, the brine freezing capacity is at 50 tonnes. Under the project to increase AFC's capacity, an additional 1,000 metric tonnes of storage for storing and cooling fish will be added, along with an additional 50 tonnes of brine freezing capacity. If so, when the project is completed, AFC will be developed to a level where 2,500 metric tonnes of fish can be stored. And the brine freezing capacity will increase to 100 tonnes.
