Samherji Fish Farming signs letter of intent to purchase Norðurál's assets in Helguvík
Norðurál, a subsidiary of Century Aluminum, and Samherji Fish Farming, the aquaculture operation of the Samherji group, have signed a letter of intent in connection with the purchase of Norðurál's assets in Helguvík in the Reykjanes Peninsula. Samherji Fish Farming is currently exploring the possibility of salmon farming on the site.
Samherji has begun a preliminary observation of conditions for salmon farming in Helguvík, and a result is expected before the end of the year.
In the Reykjanes Peninsula, Samherji already has a harvesting and processing plant in Sandgerði, a nursery and on-growing site at Staður by Grindavík and an on-growing site at Vatnsleysuströnd. Samherji also has a salmon farm in Núpsmýri by Kópasker and a nursery in Núpar in Ölfus.
Samherji Fish Farming has mainly focused on land-based farming in its operations and is currently the largest producer of Arctic char in the world with almost 3,800 tonnes annually. The company also produces about 1,500 tonnes of salmon.
In the coming weeks, Samherji Fish Farming will examine the feasibility and possibility of building a farm on the properties that currently stand in Helguvík. Due to these plans, Samherji's representatives had a meeting with the Mayors of Reykjanesbær and Suðurnesjabær, towns in the Reykjavik Peninsula. At this meeting, the Mayors were informed about the situation and inquired about issues that are important in assessing the area's possibilities for salmon farming.
"Samherji Fish Farming is interested in growing salmon in a land-based farm and is considering the location in Norðurál's assets in Helguvík. In the coming weeks, we will review the preconditions and possibilities for salmon farming in the area before further decisions are made," says Jón Kjartan Jónsson, managing director of Samherji Fish Farming.
For further information, contact:
Margrét Ólafsdóttir
margret@samherji.is
