anish feed firm uilds am ia plant

THE Danish fish feed producer Aller Aqua has announced it will build a new factory in Zambia, a year after it launched its new facility in Egypt.

The group, based near Christiansfeld in Denmark, said Africa plays a large part in its growth strategy.

Aller Aqua has partnered with Yalelo, one of the world’s leading tilapia aquaculture firms. Alongside the construction of the feed factory, Yalelo has commenced an expansion project to increase production to 20,000-30,000 tonnes of tilapia within the next few years.

The feed company and factory will be called Aller Aqua Zambia.

It will have a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of feed per year, and the investment is approximately US$10 million, said Henrik Halken, group vice-president, who is responsible for the company’s activities on the African continent. Both companies see great prospects in the collaboration. It will ensure Yalelo access to the best feed on the market and thus enable the company’s continued growth.

For Aller Aqua, the partnership provides commercial security. This enables a larger initial investment in building a world-class fish feed factory from inception.

It also gives Aller Aqua a base for ex- pansion in Zambia, a country which aims to be self-sufficient with farmed fish – but also able to export to neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania and Congo.

‘The factory will be situated near the town Siavonga, on the shore of Lake Kariba, and is expected to be ready mid-2017, provided the final commitments and permits are given from various authorities and institutions as expected,’ said Halken.

Aquaculture is expected to play a significant role in African food security and lakes such as Kariba, Victoria and Volta offer high potential.

‘With the new factory in Zambia, Aller Aqua Group will consolidate its position as the largest producer of environmentally friendly extruded fish feed in Africa,’ said Halken.

‘With the great potential in Africa it is important that we are present.

‘We have experienced significant growth in Egypt in 2015 and created two new sales subsidiaries in both Kenya and Nigeria. The feed for these two markets comes from our European factories.

‘In Zambia and the region, we plan to replicate our experience of supporting smallholder fish farmers through training in the use of more efficient commercial fish feeds.

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