The Ministry of Fisheries has stated that efforts are underway to secure the necessary budget to repair and bring the GA. Dhevvadhoo ice plant back into operation.
The Dhevvadhoo ice plant was previously operated by Fenaka Corporation. However, the facility has been out of operation for over a year. Following Fenaka's decision to cease operating ice plants as part of its cost-cutting measures, the Fisheries Ministry is currently preparing to hand over the facility to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO).
The Fisheries Ministry stated that there are no plans to close the ice plant. The ministry noted that it will cost one million rufiyaa to bring the facility back into operation, and efforts are currently underway to secure the required budget.
During his visit to Huvadhu Atoll on December 23 last year, Minister of Fisheries Ahmed Shiyam met with the island's fishermen and council members, who expressed concern over the lack of services from the Dhevvadhoo ice plant. During that visit, the minister inspected the ice plant and stated that a team of technicians from the Kooddoo Fisheries Complex would repair the facility and begin work to bring it back into operation. He had said at the time that it would be operational within a week. Nine months have passed since then, but the plant has not yet been brought into operation.
The GA. Dhevvadhoo ice plant was established during President Yameen's administration by handing it over to the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO). The 25-tonne ice plant, which was contracted to MIFCO on November 12, 2014, was opened and began providing services on April 18, 2016. At that time, it was operated by MIFCO.
The ice plant was transferred under Fenaka during the MDP administration, following changes in policies. The facility was operating smoothly when it was handed over to Fenaka.
The other three ice plants operated by Fenaka in GA. Atoll have now been handed over to MIFCO. These are the ice plants in Gemanafushi, Dhaandhoo, and Kolamaafushi.
