Oil’s well for Mowi as first tanker delivers to feed plant

In a post on its Facebook site, Mowi Scotland said that not only was it the first oil intake but also the first raw material intake to the site and “a significant step and achievement for our team”.

Mowi said that over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday the Kyleakin team worked closely with the vessel crew to discharge 1,950 tonnes, split between rape seed and lecithin oils.

Truckloads of wheat

Wednesday also witnessed the intake of four truckloads of wheat to test the truck intake system and to move the product between silos.

“During this day we simultaneously ran intake of both the wheat and oils, requiring the site team to work very closely and coordinated to assess and monitor each stage of both processes,” said Mowi on Facebook.

“First-time operations require attention to detail on every level to ensure all equipment is running in the right sequences and all of our systems are integrated correctly. The two intake types provided a fantastic opportunity for the site team to take a hands-on approach and receive live scenario training and guidance ahead of future raw material deliveries.”

A Mowi spokesperson said trials would be starting at the plant this month with the intention of starting production by the end of May. It is expected to take several months to build up to full production at the plant, which has capacity to produce 170,000 tonnes of feed annually.

The feed plant has been a huge undertaking, with costs believed to have risen to more than £100 million from the original figure of £80m.

It has involved dredging 100,000 cubic metres of material, some of which was used to extend out land next to the newly-constructed pier.

The plant will produce feed to supply Mowi’s salmon farms across the western Highlands and islands of Scotland, as well as Ireland, Norway and the Faroe Islands, and will employ 55 people.