NARAS Investment has constructed a N$ 43,5 million dollar solar-powered cold storage facility at Walvis Bay.
The facility features 1 150 solar panels and is expected to reduce the carbon footprint, whilst harnessing renewable energy. The facility currently stores 1 566 pallets weighing 1 500 metric tonnes, an equivalent of 1,5 million kilogrammes.
All fish and marine-related products such as mussels and shrimp harvested by Walvis Bay-based companies will be accommodated in this facility.
Minister of fisheries and marine resources Bernhardt Esau officially opened the facility last week.
Esau stated that it was encouraging to note that companies within the fishing sector were starting to align their strategic business activities with the ministry’s focus areas,
“From a socio-economic perspective, we cannot avoid the pertinent and most pressing issues of poverty and wealth inequalities facing our nation. Remedies such as value addition aimed at employment creation, resource distribution with other Namibians, increased corporate social investment and many other avenues are required,” he added.
The chairman of Naras Investment, Festus Naholo, said that it was an undeniable fact that the facility would not only go a long way towards providing storage space for products destined for the export market, but would contribute towards the region’s energy saving methods, ultimately minimising additional costs to the product end user. “This facility is a true gem in the desert and aims at providing the fishing industry, other stakeholders and interested parties in the market with competitive rates and more flexible logistical operating procedures,” he added.
Naras as part of value addition, created a dry horse mackerel soup with spice blends and vegetables. A further value addition initiative was the establishment of a smokery, which expanded the value chain of horse mackerel, the company said.
Naras’ subsidiary Kuiseb Fishing Enterprise established a Marine Farm to foster mariculture activities by purchasing, upgrading and harvesting a Black Mussel Farm in 2012.
Naras plans to expand the cold store facility to store 4 300 pallets at 2 155 metric tonnes, giving it a total of 5 866 pallets at 3 655 metric tonnes in the near future, the company said.
Naras is also in the process of purchasing a vessel in a joint venture partnership called Hodago Fishing with Gendev, it added. The JV will bring an additional staff complement of 90 crew members shared between the two entities, bringing the staff of our company to 125 employees, the company said.
