Andfjord Salmon completes breakthrough on Kvalnes outlet tunnel.
Andfjord Salmon has announced the completion of the outlet tunnel at its land-based aquaculture facility at Kvalnes on Andøya. The final breakthrough establishes a direct connection between the tunnel and Andfjorden, marking a key milestone in preparing the facility for operation.
According to a press release, the outlet is located 70 metres below sea level. The breakthrough was carried out safely through controlled blasting of the final 6–7 metres of bedrock separating the tunnel from the fjord.
“I am proud to report that the breakthrough and subsequent filling of approximately one kilometre of tunnel infrastructure were completed exactly according to plan and without incident. This is an important milestone in our work to ready the Kvalnes facility for operation,” said Martin Rasmussen, CEO of Andfjord Salmon.
The inlet tunnel, which will supply unused deep-sea water to all pools at the site, has also been completed. The final breakthrough for the inlet tunnel, which reaches a depth of around 50 metres, is planned for June or July. This is below the typical zones for sea lice and harmful algae.
“Our proprietary flow-through system provides continuous access to clean, deep-sea water, allowing us to recreate a natural and healthy salmon environment on land. This is a key foundation for our ambition of strong biological performance,” Rasmussen added.
In parallel with the water infrastructure, Andfjord Salmon is finalising four pools and developing a new harbour area at Kvalnes. Both projects remain on schedule, according to the company.
Earlier this year, Andfjord Salmon announced an optimised development plan for Kvalnes, increasing production capacity in phase one by approximately 20%, from 8,000 to up to 11,000 tonnes (gutted weight plus post-smolt). This will be achieved through more efficient use of pools, a new fish-handling system focused on welfare, and reinforced concrete structures to improve water flow. The expected total production capacity under the current licence will increase from 19,000 to 23,700 tonnes.