Dimensioned for 100,000 tonnes
AquaBoreal has secured power, land and necessary approvals, and is now moving forward with plans for a land-based salmon farm in Quebec, Canada. First harvest is planned for 2029.
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The project is located in Baie-Trinité and is planned as a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility with a first phase of 10,000 tonnes of annual production.
"AquaBoreal has reached several important milestones and has many of the prerequisites needed to realise the project," says Philippe St-Jean, vice president of business development and commercialisation at AquaBoreal, to LandbasedAQ.
AquaBoreal was founded in 2021, and is based on a partnership between Léopold Landry and the Chilean-based Altamar Group, one of the largest Chilean processing players.
Going into detailed design
The company has received preliminary approval for power access, as well as the necessary ministerial decision for further processing of building permits. At the same time, the land has been purchased and prepared for development.
"The location was chosen, among other things, due to access to hydroelectric power and stable energy prices," says St-Jean.
According to the company, the project also has high local acceptance, which is highlighted as an important prerequisite for larger developments.
"The company is now entering the detailed engineering phase," he says.
Has chosen Danish RAS partner
In the work on the detailed design, AquaBoreal has entered into collaboration with Danish company Globaq Solutions.
"The company will contribute to the design and development of the RAS plant, and has experience from the entire production cycle from egg to harvest. The choice of technology partner is based, among other things, on the ability to translate a complex production model into concrete technical solutions."
On Linkedin, the company writes: Next stop: Baie-Trinité in Quebec.
"With the environmental approvals now in place, the project will move on to the detailed design phase. We look forward to translating AquaBoreal's vision into concrete technical solutions," the company states.
Christian Sørensen, chief executive of Globaq Solutions, highlights experience with RAS and land-based production as central to the work.
"Our focus is to develop a robust and efficient facility that works from day one," says Sørensen.
St-Jean states that AquaBoreal has also strengthened its own organisation with expertise in recycling technology.
"Manuel Godoy is responsible for the RAS system. He has 17 years of experience with RAS and has previously helped establish the companies Recirculacionchile and Neosalmon, as well as leading an early pilot project in land-based production," he continues.
Will cover the entire production cycle
The facility is planned as a fully integrated production unit, meaning that all stages will be handled on land, from hatchery and fry production to post-smolt and food fish.
"The planned harvest weight is around five kilograms. If progress goes as planned, the company aims to start construction in 2027. The first harvest is planned for the fourth quarter of 2029," he says.
The area is also dimensioned for a possible upscaling to up to 100,000 tonnes in the long term, but this will depend on the development in the first phase.
“Our priority now is to realise phase one and begin the transition in aquaculture in Canada,” says St-Jean.
Working with financing
The project is still in a phase where financing is not fully in place.
According to an environmental impact assessment submitted to Canadian authorities, the investment cost is estimated at around CAD 407 million (£221m) in the first phase. For phase two, the cost is estimated at CAD 708m. This gives a total investment of around CAD 1.1 billion (£597m).
"AquaBoreal is now working on structuring the financing of the detailed design and is in dialogue with both public actors, investment funds, private investors and industrial partners," says St-Jean.
Emphasizes the environment and energy
The Québec location provides access to cold seawater from the Gulf of St Lawrence and renewable energy from hydroelectric power.
"This is one of the reasons why we chose the location, with access to green energy at competitive prices," says St-Jean.
The seawater will be drawn from the Gulf of St Lawrence via four intake pipes laid under the seabed. The intake is planned to be about 2.5 kilometers from land at a depth of about 36 metres, while the discharge pipe is laid about 1.5 kilometers from land.
The marine structures for the intake and discharge are dimensioned for both phases, so that any expansion does not require new interventions.
The plot itself is located around nine metres above sea level.
According to the impact assessment, each building will have its own areas for slaughter and gutting. The water treatment and sewage system will also be dimensioned for both phases from the start.
The waste water will be treated before discharge, including using coagulants and polymers to remove particles, followed by ozone treatment and mechanical filtration. Ozone will also be used in raw water treatment and in the RAS loop, while lime will be used for pH adjustment.
“We have spent significant resources over several years on environmental studies, focusing on environmental performance and local acceptance,” says St-Jean.
In the first phase, the plant is expected to create around 80 jobs in the region.
