Mowi says sorry for noise and smell from feed plant
Mowi Scotland has apologised to residents in the Kyleakin area of Skye for the “inconvenience and problems” some have experienced as a result of smell and noise emanating from the salmon farmer’s new feed plant at the Altanavaig quarry site.
It said it was confident it can resolve the problems using the best technology and expertise.
The Press and Journal last month reported that Mowi’s operations director Claes Jonermark told the newspaper that odour emissions were being checked at “specific points” around the village of Kyleakin twice a day.
In the September issue of Mowi’s staff magazine, The Scoop, the company reported that the team at the feed plant had held a drop-in session for local residents in August in response to “understandable concerns” about noise and smell from the site.
‘Share concerns’
Mowi wrote: “The event, which was well attended by around 30 people, was an opportunity for our neighbours to meet the team, find out more about the manufacturing process at the Feed Mill and, most importantly, to ask questions or share any concerns.
“After the session, we provided contact details to the residents and asked that they proactively inform us of any changes, good and bad, in terms of smell and noise they are experiencing.
“For our part, we will continue to provide regular updates with new measures we are taking and any changes they are likely to experience.
Positive contribution
“We are confident that we can resolve the problems relating to the smell and noise coming from the Feed Mill and we will use the best technology and expertise available to do so.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience and problems that our neighbours have experienced since we started production.
“Our aim is to be a good neighbour and make a positive contribution to the community in and around Kyleakin; whether that’s providing employment or contributing to community projects and initiatives.”
Commissioning
The feed plant, which employs 55 people, has taken around a year longer to build than originally envisaged, and costs have risen from £80 million to well over £100m.
It is currently in the commissioning phase where every area of the facility is being thoroughly tested. This is planned to continue throughout the summer, after which the plant will slowly enter into continuous production of commercial feed.
The Kyleakin plant will have the capacity to produce 170,000 tonnes of feed annually and will supply Mowi’s farms across the western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, as well as Ireland, Norway and the Faroe Islands. Some Scottish farms have already been receiving feed from the facility.
