Source: Solomon Star
Soltai Fishing and Processing Limited (SFPL) has added another canning and processing line at its base in Noro, Western Province.
The fourth line become operational as of last week when full the company operations resumed.
A spokesperson for the company said the new canning and processing line is worth more than a million dollars and will increase the production capacity of the company.
The introduction of the new line had also created 150 extra jobs. The new recruits are young men and women from around Noro.
Apart from the new line other equipments and machines have also been bought to increase capacity.
General manager of the company Thomas Dorku was on leave and could not be reached for a comment.
Late last year the company said it was expected to double its production to 150 metric tons per day by mid this year. Last year Soltai was producing 60 metric tons per day for its canned products.
The increase in productions became necessary following the pumping in of millions of dollars into Soltai by its new shareholders in September last year.
Tri-Marine which owned 51percent of shares pumped in $50 million and National Provident Fund (NPF) owning 29 percent of shares provided $36 million and a further $50 million refinancing loan.
Chief executive officer (CEO) of Soltai, Tony Makabo last year said these funds would help to boost production in Noro.
“Investing in Soltai will officially improve the operations and expand productions,†he said.
He said production would increase from 60 metric tons per day and gradually expand to 80 metric tons per day and to 150 metric tons per day by mid this year.
The CEO said that increase of production would increase profitability thus increase a return for the shareholders and its members.
Currently there is a high demand for Soltai canned product in the domestic and international market.