Murman Seafood Company is building a new groundfish processing plant in Kola city, near Murmansk, Russia.
The EUR 10.3 million (USD 11.6 million) plant is being built under the auspices of a Russian government program that awards higher fishing quotas in exchange for the construction of domestic fish processing plants in Russia.
Construction has already begun and the plant has an expected opening date of August 2019. When operational, the plant will be capable of processing up to 50 tons of raw material per day, the company said in a 14 November announcement.
Murmansk-based Murman Seafood was founded in 1997 and currently operates six trawlers fishing for cod, haddock, redfish, halibut, skate, shrimp, capelin, herring, and blue whiting. The company also processes fish for both human consumption and for meal and oil for both the domestic market and for export.
Denis V. Khiznyakov, manager of land-based production for Murman, said the new factory will allow the company to expand its product selection beyond traditional fillets and increase its efficiency while reducing waste.
"By building this factory, we are responding to the changing environment and improving our competitive position in an international market,” Khiznyakov said. “We will continue to offer traditional fillet products, but as well, we´ll be able to produce all kinds of portions that require flexibility and high-tech production equipment.”
Kopavogur, Iceland-based Valka will supply the technology and equipment for the facility, including a fully automated pin-bone and portion-cutting line.
"Valka has been growing quickly, and we're now in a place where we can take on the task of complete factory design and project management,” Valka General Manager Helgi Hjalmarsson said. “The benefits of having a single company managing all plant equipment are to accelerate the process and ensure the best possible processing flow. With this approach and the selected equipment, this plant will be the most advanced one in Russia."
Khiznyakov said Murman Seafood is “happy with the cooperation with Valka so far.”
“They are very solution-oriented, and their fillet production line is the most advanced on the market,” he said. “That will give us distinctive competence."
Photo courtesy of Valka
