Overview of the planned Årdal Aqua facilities.
Image: Årdal Aqua.
Årdal Aqua has selected aquaculture technology AKVA group to take over and complete the construction of its post-smolt facility in Årdal, following the bankruptcy of the previous contractor, Billund Aquaculture.
The facility, which is set to be a major contributor to Norway's aquaculture industry, consists of four post-smolt modules, each with a capacity of 1,500 tons. The project is now scheduled for completion by June 2025.
AKVA group, a leading provider of technology and services to the aquaculture industry, said it has brought on board key personnel from Billund Aquaculture to ensure continuity and success in the project. Additionally, AKVA will contribute further resources to meet the project's specifications and timeline.
"Engaging AKVA group was crucial to ensure the post-smolt facility is completed as planned. We are confident that their expertise and the integration of key personnel from the previous supplier will ensure progress and completion by June 2025," said Nils Viga, General Manager of Årdal Aqua, in an AKVA Group press release.
The Årdal facility, originally contracted to Billund Aquaculture, was designed to produce Atlantic salmon post-smolt with an annual capacity of 6,000 tons and a daily feed capacity of 25 tons, according to project specifications published in the Billund Aquaculture website.
Despite the setback caused by the previous contractor's bankruptcy, the project remains a key component of Årdal Aqua's broader development plans.
Årdal Aqua, located in Årdal within Hjelmeland municipality, is owned by Omfar AS, Grieg Seafood Rogaland AS, and Vesthavbruk AS. The company is currently under development, aiming for the capacity to produce 6,000 tonnes of "large smolt" annually for delivery to food fish farmers, primarily in Rogaland. The facility is also equipped to produce food fish.
Construction of the infrastructure, including four production halls and an administration building, began in autumn 2022, with the first production halls starting operations in 2024.
Årdal Aqua has a long-term plan to expand the facility, eventually reaching a production capacity of 15,000 tonnes per year across ten halls by 2030.
A specialist in the design, implementation, and service of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for land-based fish farming, Billund Aquaculture filed for bankruptcy in July 2024.
The land-based aquaculture technology specialist, which was founded in Denmark in 1986, had been unable to secure sufficient capital to continue its operations, the company said announcing the closure.