The initiative will see Ventisqueros slash carbon dioxide emissions by 427 metric tons a year and decrease its oil usage by 180,000 litres.
Chilean salmon farmer Ventisqueros has officially opened its E-Site in Quemchi, the first salmon farm in the southern hemisphere to be fully powered by renewable energy.
The grand opening was graced by local officials, including the Mayor of Quemchi, Luis Macías who praised Ventisqueros for their commitment to local communities.
“Ventisqueros has consistently supported social and community organisations, something not all firms prfioritize. I commend them for their efforts,” he said.
Over a span of 21 months, the facility will employ clean energy generated through a combination of solar and wind power, sourced from Tubildad, Isla Grande de Chiloé. This initiative will enable Ventisqueros to cut down the site’s carbon dioxide emissions by a notable 427 tonnes and decrease its oil usage by 180,000 litres.
José Luis Vial, Ventisqueros’ General Manager, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“The E-Site represents yet another stride towards sustainable practices. This farming centre, powered entirely by renewable energy, complements our processing plant and office spaces that already harness clean energy,” he said.
Vial hinted at further plans to expand these green initiatives.
“We are in the process of reviewing studies that could potentially allow us to incorporate clean energy in other parts of our operations. However, in the southern regions of Chile, there remains an infrastructure gap, and we invite more public-private collaborations to address this,” he concluded.
German owned
Ventisqueros is owned by Munich-based conglomerate Schorghuber Group. In March the group called off plans to sell the salmon producer, citing tough global economic conditions.
Ventisqueros posted sales amounting to $160 million for 2021, based on the production of 35,582 metric tons. However, the company reported slim earnings of merely $8 million, as per data from La Tercera.
Since the inception of its ownership by Schorghuber, Ventisqueros has seen considerable growth with sales having stood at just €40 million ($42.8 million) when the group took over in 2012.
In 2013, the company introduced its BluGlacier brand, a joint venture between Blumar and Ventisqueros, designed specifically for the distribution of Chilean salmon in the lucrative US market.
Beyond its primary focus on Atlantic salmon, BluGlacier also markets premium coho salmon products, including Ventisqueros’ Silverside and offerings from Ice Val, which BluGlacier took over in January 2019.
Industry insiders have buzzed about the potential acquisition of Ventisqueros. Among the interested parties is Brazilian meat behemoth JBS. Additionally, industry stalwarts like Agrosuper’s AquaChile and Norwegian titans Mowi and Cermaq might have assessed the benefits of such an acquisition.
