Today, Thor Salmon reached a major milestone as ground was broken for the company’s new smolt facility in Þorlákshöfn. The ceremony marked the official start of construction on Thor’s site.
The ceremony was conducted by Elliði Vignisson, Mayor of Ölfus, and Þórður Þórðarson, Thor’s Legal Counsel and one of the company’s founders.
Targeting Annual Production of 20,000 Tonnes
The construction of the smolt station is the first phase of Thor’s development. The next phase will be a grow‑out facility with an annual production capacity of 5,000 tonnes of salmon. Over time, Thor plans to expand its land‑based salmon‑farming capacity to 20,000 tonnes.
The company has been allocated a 25‑hectare site west of Þorlákshöfn. The area is exceptionally well suited to land‑based aquaculture because of ample supplies of freshwater and clean seawater pumped from wells.
First Eggs Expected Next Year
The smolt facility will be approximately 1,800 square metres and is expected to employ around ten people. Once total production reaches 20,000 tonnes, Thor anticipates around 100 employees.
According to Halldór Ragnar Gíslason, Thor’s Managing Director, the start of construction marks an important milestone following extensive preparation, including design work and permitting.
The first batch of eggs is expected in early next year, and the first grow‑out tank is scheduled for completion about twelve months later.
Built for the Requirements of Modern Aquaculture
Jónatan Þórðarson, Thor’s Head of Aquaculture, says the new facility will complement the strong aquaculture activity already present in the Þorlákshöfn area and across the Reykjanes Peninsula.
“This region is becoming one of the world’s most powerful hubs for land‑based salmon farming, which creates significant opportunities across related fields,” he says.
Vignir Stefánsson, facility manager, emphasises that the station will be built to meet the highest standards of modern salmon farming.
“Having the smolt and grow‑out operations close together is a major advantage — we can pump smolt directly from the smolt facility into the grow‑out tanks, saving both time and money,” he says.
Elliði Vignisson, Mayor of Ölfus, and Þórður Þórðarson, Thor Salmon’s Legal Counsel, with shovels in hand, breaking ground for Thor Salmon’s new smolt facility.
The groundbreaking ceremony marks a milestone in Thor’s operations.