Andfjord Salmon AS has confirmed the appointment of Jostein Nilssen as its new project director.
The Sortland, Vesterålen, Norway-based salmon farming company reported progress on its land-based salmon aquaculture facility in Kvalnes, Norway in its H1 2021 results, issued earlier this month. The company is implementing a patented flow-through system, with a plan to eventually produce up to 19,000 MT head-on gutted Atlantic salmon annually.
Taking up the post with immediate effect and also joining Andfjord Salmon's management group, Nilssen previously worked in the oil industry as a project manager and offshore installation manager with ConocoPhillips. He was most recently production director with Øksnes Entreprenø, with overriding responsibility for all of its projects and factories.
"Andfjord Salmon has ambitions and concrete development plans that are very attractive. Being allowed to take part in this industrial adventure is an opportunity one cannot pass up. With my experience from technological innovations both offshore and onshore, I'm really looking forward to using my expertise in the future development of the company," Nilssen said.
Andfjord Salmon is developing land-based facilities at three separate sites on Andøya. This summer, the first pool was completed and is now entering a test phase, while the development of the remaining pools and sites are proceeding at full capacity. In total and using flow-through technology, Andfjord Salmon has the potential to produce 90,000 metric tons (MT) of salmon HOG and Nilssen will play an important role in meeting that potential, according to Andfjord Salmon CEO Martin Rasmussen.
"Jostein Nilssen has highly relevant and unique experience in developing big international projects. He has documented his ability to implement and deliver results, having led innovative projects for one of the world's biggest oil companies. [He] will have a key role in the future development of the company's facilities," Rasmussen said.
Andfjord’s Kvalnes facility utilizes its access to tempered water directly from the Gulf Stream to produce salmon more efficiently, with its estimated energy usage is as low as 1 kWh per kilogram of produced salmon, Rasmussen said.
"We are on schedule with our long-term plans to produce approximately 90,000 MT of salmon, with the smallest environmental footprint ever seen. Jostein Nilssen is the best person to have with us when we will now be realizing our further development plans,” Rasmussen said.
Photo courtesy of Andfjord Salmon
