Kvarøy invests in upgrade for smolt facility
Norwegian salmon farmer Kvarøy Arctic is set to get an upgrade and expansion for its Kvarøy Smolt facility. The investment represents a commitment of NOK 125m (£10.2m) by Kvarøy’s parent company Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett AS.
The investment aims to reduce energy consumption by up to 50% while optimising growing conditions and welfare for the fish. Kvarøy Smolt will have the capacity to produce up to 10 million smolt per year—nearly double its current volume—with a smaller energy footprint than its current production model, the company says.
“This investment means we have better control in the smolt phase of production and that ultimately leads to increased production of fish,” said Kvarøy Arctic and Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett CEO Alf-Gøran Knutsen. “This project also lifts the total sustainability in our overall production of fish. We are always looking to improve and this is a perfect example of how we are accomplishing that goal.”
Kvarøy Smolt is located in Mo Industripark, a large industrial park in Mo i Rana, in the north of Norway, and this means the facility has ample access to water and surplus heat from surrounding industry.
With the investment, Kvarøy Smolt will renovate two production halls, install a new energy and treatment plant, create a new administration building, and optimise water quality throughout the production. New steel tanks from AKVA Group, each holding approximately 190,000 litres of water, will be installed to nearly double the volume of smolt production. Each tank will utilize an oxygen recovery and CO2 stripping system, which reduces water consumption.
“Expansion of our facility in this location means we can support our own business and the surrounding businesses by harnessing and recycling energy. Through our collaborations, we do not need a greater fresh water supply. We’re fully utilising residual resources,” said Project Manager Stig Joar Krogli.
How the expanded Kvarøy Smolt facility will look
