Marine Harvest Scotland, a subsidiary of salmon farming giant Marine Harvest, has submitted plans to build a fish feed plant in Kyleakin, Scotland, with an estimated cost of GBP 80 million (USD 104 million, EUR 92 million).
Marine Harvest Scotland hopes to break ground on the project in early 2017 and it expects construction to take between one year and 18 months, according to a press release. The company said it hopes the plant will be operational by early 2018.
“The planning application contains detailed information about the plant and any potential impact, including the results of extensive research and analysis of the site,” the company said. “Extensive consultation with the community has also taken place in advance of the application submission, with public exhibitions, presentations to the community councils and dialogue with elected representatives in the area. Each home in the area was leafleted with information about the proposal and an invitation to attend a drop in session.
The investment in the feed plant is part of an overall drive by Marine Harvest Scotland to become a more efficient and sustainable business, the company said in its release. The plant is expected to create 55 full-time, permanent jobs.
“The company is confident that the project will also provide a significant boost for the local economy, as is the case at its plant in Bjugn, Norway,” Marine Harvest Scotland said in its release.
The site at Altanavaig (or Allt Anavig) quarry, is “more than large enough to accommodate the development,” which the will include the feed plant, raw material storage silos, product storage and packaging, a loading area and car parking.
“We have been very pleased with the response to our plan to build a fish feed plant at Kyleakin. The feedback from the local community has been overwhelmingly positive and people are keen to see the feed plant up and running and providing jobs,” Marine Harvest Scotland Managing Director Ben Hadfield said. “That’s not to say they haven’t asked questions and raised concerns, but we are confident we have addressed these and reassured them on the issues brought up during the consultation process.”
