Copyright/ Gungör Tamzok

Eskja pelagic fish processing plant

COWI and Eskja joined forces to build a new 7,000 m² pelagic fish processing plant in Eskifjörður, which is entirely powered by sustainable energy and boasts a processing capacity of up to 900 tonnes per day.  

Eskja has made it a guiding principle to interact with fishing grounds around Iceland with responsibility and respect, and to minimise the environmental impact of its operations. A family-owned company in Eskifjörður, Eskja now operates some of the most advanced, efficient and environmentally friendly fish processing facilities in the North Atlantic and has been a leading force in the Icelandic seafood industry for the past 70 years.  

Eskja collaborated with COWI on constructing a new processing plant running entirely on renewable energy that is equipped with the latest technology in sorting and freezing pelagic species. The project also included the electrification of Eskja’s fishmeal production facility, replacing the use of oil in the production cycle with green electricity from renewable energy. 

A smooth and effective collaboration meant the plant could start processing only seven months after the first ground was broken on site. 

“Such a short construction period entails that a lot of work components must kick off at the same time and be carried out simultaneously. That is usually not the case in this type of project. The installation of equipment, for example, began before the foundations had been fully cast, and the steel frame building was built over processing lines. Very close co-operation and ongoing communication were key ingredients in making this possible,” says Pálmi Benediktsson, Project Manager. 

During the project, COWI provided construction management and supervision, surveying along with project management. The project also included installation design, a seawater pumping station, and a treatment facility that services both the fish processing plant and a fish meal factory.