Construction of a new cannery capable of processing 100 tonnes of fish per day under the Felivaru expansion project is expected to begin in the middle of this year, according to the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.
The project is intended to increase the processing capacity of Felivaru, the main production hub of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), which handles a significant share of the country’s tuna catch.
Felivaru has long served as the primary facility for processing a large proportion of the Maldives’ skipjack tuna. At present, the factory mainly processes fish for the domestic market. The government has therefore launched several initiatives aimed at expanding the facility’s capacity and operations.
Speaking during a programme broadcast on state media, Minister of State for Fisheries and Marine Resources Mohamed Muththalib stated that the existing cannery at Felivaru is an ageing facility that has been in operation for around four decades. He noted that the current plant seals approximately 35 tonnes of canned fish each day.
According to Muththalib, a Chinese company has been contracted to develop the new cannery, which will significantly increase the plant’s daily processing capacity. Practical construction work on the facility is expected to begin in the middle of this year.
The Felivaru expansion project is being implemented in phases. The first phase, referred to as Component A, is currently under way and includes the construction of storage facilities with a capacity of 400 tonnes as well as infrastructure capable of handling up to 250 tonnes of fish per day.
Muththalib indicated that works under this phase are expected to be completed around June or July.
He also noted that progress on the project has been slower than initially anticipated. The state minister said the project is receiving support from the Indian government, including assistance through the Indian Embassy, while an Indian contractor is responsible for the work and has been urged to accelerate progress.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources stated that the completion of the Felivaru expansion will significantly increase MIFCO’s processing capacity and support the continued development of the Maldives’ fisheries sector.
The expanded facility will allow larger volumes of fish to be processed and help increase exports to international markets.
