Chilean salmon farmer Camanchaca is planning a USD 23 million (EUR 19.8 million) investment in expanding its capacity to process fishmeal, fish oil, frozen fish, and canned products at its operation near the city of Concepcion, in southern Chile.
A report in Diario de Concepcion cited documents filed as part of the expansion’s environmental permits in mid-September, and would include renovating and expanding the company’s current plant in the community of Coronel.
Alejandro Floràs, the legal representative of Camanchaca Pesca Sur – one of the salmon farmer’s business units – said in one of the documents that the project is part of one of its strategic planning strategy for the BioBio region for 2015-2030.
Work on the plant is scheduled to start in the first few months of 2019, and will include modernization of the plant to make it functional for at least the next 30 years, the report added. Some 80 people would be hired for the installation of new equipment, and the new plant would require 650 operators.
Moreover, the salmon farmer said that it would implement a “strict cleaning and maintenance program for the productive installation and liquid waste treatment,” which will allow it to reduce the emission of bad odors and contaminates due to the decomposition of organic material.
Local officials, including sanitary inspection official Mauricio Gutièrrez confirmed that they are aware of the project and have been in contact with the firm regarding its future.
Camanchaca held an IPO in Oslo and Santiago earlier this year, and earlier said it would use those funds to invest in its growth and optimize production.
Photo courtesy of Camanchaca
