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The people of Myre in Vesterålen had reason to smile from ear to ear today.
They received news perhaps more important than the Peace Prize and the sun in the sky:
For the approximately 4,000 inhabitants of the Øksnes municipality with the sea as the most important source of food and income, it was clear that the fundamental company Primex survives.
This means that 70 employees can keep their jobs.
The state-of-the-art company that ensures Norwegian cod is processed on land in Norway, and not in another country.
It’s been a joke as to whether it should survive, just a few years after the launch.
– Like Christmas Eve
Just two years after commissioning in 2018, there has been a full-blown crisis lately, despite top-notch high-tech equipment. Therefore, there is good humor between
– It was an exultant experience when it became clear that there is a future for the company. Many are very happy, says board chairman Eirik Sørdahl at Primex Norway.
Chairman of the Board of Directors Eirik Sørdahl at Primex Norway.
Photo: Monica White Martinsen / NRK
The goal was to raise 40 million fresh crowns. They ended up with just over NOK 50 million after a share issue, with six new shareholders.
– It’s like Christmas Eve, employees tell Bladet Vesterålen.
Salmon will be salvation for the cod company
Its raw material, cod. it is only available half the year.
The quality of white fish is not as good in autumn as it is in winter and spring.
To save the company, they are now investing in cod’s red counterpart: salmon.
This spring, the board chairman applied to lease salmon licenses from the state for year-round operations when there is no season for cod.
It is not allowed to rent licenses, that is, permits, to engage in salmon farming. They must be purchased.
This law has not yet been modified and the Minister of Fisheries rejected the proposal in May.
Instead, they will initially buy salmon from local suppliers.
– We have developed a business plan that will further develop the company. It consists of the production of white and red fish, and better care of the by-products. This plan has been heard by shareholders, he says.
Six new shareholders, led by cod businessman André Reinholdtsen, were the rescue.
Mayor John Danielsen of Øksnes tells NRK that he is happy and relieved that jobs are being saved with fresh capital.
– This is a great day for Øksnessamfunnet, for Nordland and Norway. I’m taking the entirety of Fishing Norway. I must congratulate both the company and the Chairman of the Board Sørdahl, who has done a tremendous job in helping the company recover.
– But aren’t you afraid this is short term?
– What is presented is a long-term plan. I have great good faith in it, says Danielsen.
– This case is about thinking about new things, while also focusing on industry, the coast and jobs, says Øksnes Mayor John Danielsen (Sp).
Photo: Monica White Martinsen / NRK
I went with 200 million less
Today 95 percent of everything we collect is exported.
NRK previously reported that Norway loses NOK 30 billion for not processing our own fish.
Therefore, great expectations were placed on the new factory. It should demonstrate that whitefish can be processed in Norway, and not simply ship untreated out of the country.
Primex had to show that it was possible to make money from the production of cod fillets in Norway, but it was not.
The factory left with nearly $ 200 million in less in 2019.
– This comes down to having a job to go to, says the chairman of the board. I’m glad I was able to give all the staff a good start to the weekend.
Ant in the Øksnes municipality in Vesterålen.
The objective is a production throughout the year: half white cod, the other half red salmon.
– We started out carefully. If this works, we can go from one to two shifts in winter. In that case, we are talking about 40-50 new jobs in addition to those that exist today, says Sørdahl.
