The 30-tonne ice plant and 50-tonne ice storage facility developed in Meedhoo, Dhaalu Atoll, by the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) have been officially inaugurated.
MIFCO was awarded the contract for the construction of the ice plant in Meedhoo on 24 September last year.
The facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam, at a special ceremony held in Meedhoo on Wednesday. The event was attended by MIFCO’s Chief Executive Officer Brigadier General (Retd) Farhath Shaheer, Head Imam of the Islamic Centre Sheikh Mohamed Latheef and the President of the Meedhoo Island Council.
The government is establishing ice plants across the country to improve fishermen’s access to ice. The Meedhoo ice plant is part of the government's ongoing project to set up ice plants on 11 islands.
The new facility has the capacity to produce 30 tonnes of ice per day, and includes a 50-tonne ice storage.
The introduction of additional ice plants is expected to significantly increase the capacity of the national network of ice plants for the fishing industry. Ice plants have already been established on 25 islands across the Maldives, and the government is also working to hand over the management of ice plants operated by the Fenaka Corporation Limited to MIFCO.