MOZAMBIQUE – Mozambique is set to commission the largest fishing and aquaculture project, with an investment of around US$100 million.

The multimillion dollar project in Moma, on the coast of the northern province of Nampula, is expected to boost the fishing industry in the country especially through production of shellfish including prawns, lobsters and crabs,

Mozambique News Agency reports that the project is in the last phases of its completion which according to Nampula provincial governor Victor Borges will provide jobs for around 2,000 people involved in aquaculture.

Stonechen Commercal, a Chinese company which owns the project, said that the facility is expected to produce around 20 tonnes of various types of seafood per day, when the project becomes operational in October.

The company’s spokesperson, Mussa Sarajabo, revealed that the factory is 75 per cent complete and will further strengthen the company’s performance after nine years.

“In addition to this processing factory, our complex here includes a fishing port, and a factory making fish feed”, he said.

Sarajabo said that the project was delayed by the cyclone Idai, which struck central Mozambique in March, where the heavy equipment for Stonechen Commercial was awaiting transport to Moma.

“The heavy equipment was in Beira, and we were waiting for transport, when Idai struck. A lot was destroyed, and the losses were incalculable”, Sarajabo explained adding that logistic challenges have further delayed transport of the equipment.

“In its current state, the Nampula-Moma road is not able to bear the weight of our equipment”, he said. “So we are waiting for it to improve, and we are urging the authorities to deal with the matter urgently”.

Sarajabo said the company will operate with 25 industrial and 60 semi-industrial fishing vessels in which 70 per cent of the company’s production will be exported, while 30 per cent will be sold on the domestic market.

As part of the countries efforts to reconstruct the fishing industry, Mozambique secured a US$2 billion deal for the purchase of a tuna fishing fleet, a coastal monitoring and security system and the tools to create its own shipbuilding business.

With funding from Credit Suisse and VTB Capital, the country had contracted Privinvest to build the boats and systems.