The site of the VIII Region Pesquera Bio Bio fishmeal plant was one of the areas worst hit by the February earthquake. (Map: Stock File)

Earthquake demolishes 50 pct of fishmeal plant

Executives of the company Pesquera Bio Bio report that half of the facilities of the fishmeal processing plant located in VIII Region were demolished.

The VIII Region (Bio Bio), where the company operates its fleet operation and production of fishmeal/fish oil and products for human consumption, was one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake of Saturday 27 February.

According to the general manager of the company, Jan Stengel, they are currently in the midst of tallying the damage.

For now, he disclosed that the fishmeal processing plant had half its facilities destroyed, which is why he estimates that it will take “between three and five months to be able to reconstruct it and make it operational."

In so doing, the company will not be able to cover the fishmeal sales contracts of its mainly Asian clients.

"We told the Japanese that, in the short term, there could be an abatement in supply, but that it would normalise itself in the mid-term,” Stengel indicated.

The executive also warned that the seafood industry could lose markets in the short term due to the paralysation of processing plants faced with power outages and damage sustained from the seismic event.

Nevertheless, “in the long term, Chile will remain a major fishmeal and fish oil producer,” he asserted.

The two plants of products for human consumption owned by Pesquera Bio Bio in the coast of the VIII Region also sustained damage, but they were not as serious, which is why they may reinitiate their activities in the next 15 days, Stengel said.

Product stocks – of canned products and frozen filets of fish – did not sustain damage, for which he assured they have reserves ”to supply the market for the next 60 days.“ During this time, the company hopes to be able to resume production of this area, Diario Financiero reports.

Related article:

- Salmon producers, fishermen face devastation

By Analia Murias
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Address:	Colon 2450 - P.O. Box 5 - A
City:	Talcahuano
State/ZIP:	( )
Country:	Chile
Phone:	+56 41 920 065
Fax:	+56 41 586 130
E-Mail:	pesquerabiobio@pesbio.cl
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