Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Zaha Waheed has stated the development of saltwater ice plants in Gaafaru, Kaafu Atoll and Maduvvari, Raa Atoll will be completed within the next 4 months.
Speaking at a programme aired on PSM News, Fisheries Minister Zaha said the project to develop saltwater ice plants in Gaafaru and Maduvvari would have been completed by May if the project went ahead as per the initial plan and schedule. The minister said the contract signed with VAM & Co. Private Limited has now been terminated after the company was not able to carry out the project as planned. She said the project has now been contracted to the state fisheries company, Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO), adding the project is now expected to be completed within the next 4 months.
The fisheries minister further noted ice plants are being developed in another 5 regions of the Maldives, under the grant assistance of Saudi Arabia. The minister also noted another ice plant is being set up in Feeali, Faafu Atoll by the administration. She said the development of these ice plants will resolve the difficulties faced by local fishermen in the atolls in acquiring ice for storage.
The government has aimed to develop at least one ice plant in each atoll of the Maldives.