Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam has stated that the Government aims to increase the Maldives’ cold storage capacity to 25,000 metric tonnes, up from the current capacity of approximately 9,500 metric tonnes.

The Minister shared details of the initiative during a press briefing held at the President’s Office.

Minister Shiyam said work has already begun on cold storage projects in four locations after contracts were awarded to contractors. These include a 4,000-tonne cold storage facility in Gaafu Alifu Kooddoo, a 500-tonne facility in Meemu Mulah, a 4,000-tonne facility in Felivaru and a 1,000-tonne facility in Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo.

Construction work on the Kooddoo facility has already commenced, while the contractor for the Mulah facility has mobilised to begin work. The Felivaru cold storage facility is nearing completion.

Minister Shiyam also noted that work on the Thinadhoo facility is progressing steadily. The Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) aims to complete the project within the next two months.

In addition to these projects, the Government is working to expand the capacity of the existing cold storage facility in Hulhudhoo in Addu Atoll. As pledged by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to the people of Addu, work will also begin to establish a fish processing factory in Hulhudhoo.

The Minister further stated that Thaa Hirilandhoo, where fish processing activities are already carried out on a large scale, will also receive a cold storage facility. Additional facilities are also planned for Ihavandhoo and Kanduoigiri.

The Hulhudhoo facility will have a storage capacity of 500 tonnes, while the facility planned for Hirilandhoo will have a capacity of 200 tonnes. The Ihavandhoo facility will be able to store up to 1,000 tonnes of fish, while the facility planned for Kanduoigiri will have a capacity of 200 tonnes.