Contractor to be awarded next week for ice plants in three islands

The Fisheries Ministry has announced that a contractor will be awarded next week to develop ice plants in three islands, as part of the ongoing effort to establish ice plants in 11 islands across the Maldives.

The Ministry made this statement during a meeting held with senior officials of the Infrastructure Ministry to expedite fisheries-related projects.

To resolve the difficulties fishermen face in obtaining ice and to arrange for fishermen from all regions of the Maldives to get ice without any hardship, the government is preparing to establish ice plants in 11 islands. Accordingly, the government has decided to establish ice plants at state expense in Kulhudhuffushi City, Sh. Funadhoo, Lh. Naifaru, M. Veyvah, Dh. Bandidhoo, and Dh. Meedhoo. Out of these, the Fisheries Ministry states that a contractor will be awarded next week to establish ice plants in Sh. Funadhoo, Dh. Meedhoo, and Dh. Bandidhoo.

The other 5 ice plants are being established with the assistance of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) of Saudi Arabia. These are the ice plants being developed in HA. Ihavandhoo, HA. Dhidhdhoo, Sh. Komandoo, AA. Rasdhoo, and GDh. Rathafandhoo.

The Finance Ministry opened these projects for international bidding on August 22 to find a party to develop these ice plants. While registration to participate in the bid is open until October 15, interested parties have the opportunity to submit bids until October 20.

Not getting enough ice for fishermen, the unavailability of ice from some existing ice plants, and having to burn fuel to travel to distant islands to get ice is a very big challenge currently faced by fishermen. With the new ice plants, it is expected that the hardship fishermen currently endure in obtaining ice will be greatly eased.