Seafarms Group is a step closer to constructing its Kununurra processing facility and is seeking expressions of interest for major contract works for its northern Australian prawn aquaculture project. The sustainable aquaculture company last week released its interim financial report for the half-year to December 31, outlining its progress through plans for Project Sea Dragon a large-scale, land-based development designed to produce 130,000-180,000 tonnes of black tiger prawns year-round for domestic and export markets. While the group recorded a half-year net loss after tax of $12.8 million to December 2020 and saw revenue drop more than 30 per cent to $14.9 million, it reported significant progress in its Project Sea Dragon development and financing. In the half-year report, the company said it had continued to progress through financing Project Sea Dragon, despite the challenging environment created by COVID-19. It said Project Sea Dragon remained shovel ready, with expressions of interest now open for four major contract works located at Legune Station, including for sea water pumps and piping, earthworks, pond structures and design and construction work for a sea water intake structure. Seafarms has begun an expression of interest process in the local market for a variety of contracting opportunities for Stage 1A of Project Sea Dragon. This is concurrent with a funding process that is still under way, the company said. This demonstrates our confidence in the feasibility of the project and ability to secure capital investment. Summaries of major construction packages have also been made public at Seafarms processing plant, to be built 15km north of Kununurra and about 100km away from the planned prawn farm at Legune Station. The packages include work on the design and construction of the processing plant buildings and its wastewater treatment plant, the supply and installation of processing plant equipment, and various other procurement activities. Seafarms is looking to finalise $153 million in 30 tenders by the end of May, with the tendering timetable developed to optimise construction in the dry season.
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