Aerial view of works' progress at the 'Salfjord I – Tjeldbergodden' land-based oceanfront aquaculture facility in Aure, Norway, in March 2026.
Photo: Salfjord.
Salfjord's first large-scale land-based fish farming facility at Tjeldbergodden, Norway, has taken another step in its development after the aquaculture company signed a partnership agreement with Artec Aqua VAQ for the turnkey delivery of what it intends to become "the world's most reliable land-based salmon farming facility."
The agreement reached between the two Norwegian companies includes an initial phase of collaboration focused on defining the scope of the project, the technical solutions, the execution model and the construction cost estimates.
This part will be key to the project, as it will form the basis for Salfjord's final investment decision (FID) for the first phase of its project in Tjeldbergodden, one of the largest land-based aquaculture projects planned in the world.
With its sister company Totalbetong as subcontractor for building and civil works, Artec Aqua VAQ—the aquaculture services provider resulting from the merger of Artec Aqua and VAQ, both owned by Endúr, in September 2025—, will commence front-end engineering design (FEED) for the first build-out phase, targeted for completion in the third quarter of 2026.
The estimated value of the contract is NOK 700–800 million, but, as Artec Aqua VAQ noted, it may be significantly higher depending on the final production volume, as Salfjord holds a license for 43,000 tons of live salmon and 30 million smolts per year.
Hans Ramsvik, General Manager in Salfjord, and Fredrik Emil Riise Langehaug, Managing Director at Artec Aqua VAQ.
Photo: Salfjord.
As mentioned above, subject to a positive FID, Artec Aqua VAQ will act as a turnkey supplier for Salfjord's planned land-based aquaculture facility at Tjeldbergodden in the municipality of Aure. The farm will be based on the proven hybrid land-based cultivation technology of Endúr's subsidiary, which its new partner highlighted as offering high operational robustness, strong biosecurity, and scalable performance.
"Artec Aqua VAQ has the most extensive track record in hybrid system design and delivery, a key driver behind Salfjord's partner selection," read the statement from the Norwegian land-based aquaculture company. This point was also emphasized by Fredrik Langehaug, CEO of Artec Aqua VAQ.
"We have the most extensive track record in the design, engineering, and construction of hybrid land-based systems," Langehaug stated. "Salfjord has informed us that this was an important reason for choosing us as their turnkey supplier," he added.
Specifically, the facility will be built following the same model as Salmon Evolution's in Indre Harøy, a facility the aquaculture supplier knows well from the inside. Artec Aqua was the turnkey supplier for Phase 1 and was also responsible for the design, construction and commissioning of the processing plant, focusing on the installation of advanced piping systems and the assembly of processing equipment in Phase 2.
In addition, as part of the project's further development during the construction phase, Salfjord and Endúr have entered into an agreement whereby, subject to certain conditions, the latter will invest in the project. "This structure facilitates a close alignment between industrial execution and capital participation, significantly reducing risks related to delivery, counterparty, and financing for all parties involved," Salfjord said.
For its part, Artec Aqua VAQ reported that the investment commitment of its parent company to acquire a stake in Salfjord is up to NOK 40 million, conditional on the project advancing to the construction phase. "This means that the entire project—from ownership to turnkey delivery—is driven by the Endúr group," the statement read.
The Tjeldbergodden oceanfront farm is a phased, scalable industrial platform, designed to support increasing production volumes over time. The successful completion of the first phase positions Salfjord for further development and expansion, including Salfjord II – Hyttneset, also located in Aure.
With licensed capacity—43,000 tons of live Atlantic salmon per year, and 30 million smolts, as said—, secured power from May 2028, a turnkey execution model with reduced risks, and aligned industrial and capital partners, Salfjord is positioning itself to deliver a large-scale, capital-efficient, and biology-optimized land-based salmon farming platform with long-term growth opportunities.
