Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO) has revealed the project to upgrade the cold storage facilities at Felivaru Fisheries Complex has been opened for tender.
The upgrade of cold storage facilities in Felivaru is carried out under the aid of the Exim Bank of India. The scope of the project involves establishing a 4000MT cold storage, along with a 200MT brine freezing facility in Felivaru. The project also involves developing a refrigerated seawater facility and other related equipment and facilities.
As part of the project to upgrade fisheries facilities across the country, the government has also decided to develop a 50MT ice plant and a 100MNT cold storage in Gemanafushi, Gaafu Alifu Atoll. This would increase MIFCO’s cold storage capacity by 48% and freezing capacity by 37%.
The limited freezing capacity of MIFCO has led to several problems with purchasing and processing fish from local fishing vessels, especially during the peak fishing seasons. The government is undertaking several projects to upgrade the facilities of MIFCO in order to resolve the difficulties faced by local fishermen in selling their catch.