Skretting Starts Work on 100,000-tonne Feed Plant

The plant has a modular design and the first production line is scheduled to be in action by May 2009.

Subsequent building phases will expand the plant to three lines with a total capacity of 100,000 tonnes.

Alberto Allodi, Managing Director of Skretting East Mediterranean, said: "Investing in the new plant demonstrates our commitment to aquaculture in Turkey."

He added: "Further underlining our commitment, we are changing the name of our Turkish business from Trouw Yem to Skretting Yem. The name and the plant show that we believe Turkish aquaculture has a great future and they place Skretting firmly at the centre of this growing industry."

Levent Kayi, the General Manager of Skretting Turkey, added: "In the past decade, the bulk of aquaculture production in Turkey has shifted to larger enterprises with highly professional staff and very efficient production. Counting both freshwater and marine production, Turkey is now the second largest aquaculture producer in Europe, after Norway.

"Conditions here are among the best anywhere, with an ideal coastline, optimum temperatures and excellent water quality. We are convinced that aquaculture will continue to grow and Skretting Turkey will grow with it.

"Customers are reacting positively to our initiative. The new plant, combined with Skretting expertise, will enhance our ability to support Turkish aquaculture with high quality, innovative and reliable feeds.

"We will start feed production next year with ongrowing feeds, both for the trout market and for marine species such as sea bass and sea bream. In addition to the production facility, we are extending the warehouse from 800 to 2,000 square metres to increase flexibility and speed of response to customer orders."