A customer buying crushed ice at the Ice Factory. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
Adverse weather conditions have brought down sales at the Ice Factory at Doha Corniche. The facility, which has been operating for over a year now, runs round the clock providing its services to the fishermen and restaurants in the city.
The Factory has seven workers, including five boat captains and two workers. COAF Engineering company has provided ice making machinery to the factory.
“Government provides water to the Ice Factory, which is filtered twice. Also, we have two machines to help generate ice for the factory. The ice is made every day, and usually Thursday is the peak day for our sales. We supply ice to all customers, mostly restaurants and fishermen and even families buy ice from us,” Abdul Nasser Abdul Aziz, the boat captain of PEO, told The Peninsula.
“In summer, our sale is very good when compared to winter months. We used to have sales of more than QR600 per day in summer. Since the winter months began, the maximum we earn is QR400 every day,” he said.
Due to the unstable weather conditions, there have been restrictions on venturing into the sea, this winter, which has affected fishing. Hence most of the fishermen refrain from buying ice, which is used for storage purposes.
“One bucket of ice is sold for one riyal. Our customers usually ask for one sack of ice, which is equal to five buckets of ice, and these bags cost just QR2,” he said.
The Ice Factory located near jetty (Al-Bandar) on the Corniche, functions from 7am to 6pm. However, the facility offers services at all times.
“There is a calling bell placed outside the factory, and anyone can approach us anytime. The workers have their accommodation next to the company and they are also responsible for safekeeping the premises,” said Abdul Aziz
When weather is fine, the ice factory is usually busy with a number of fishermen lining up for ice, before heading to the sea for fishing.
“ We go fishing from 6pm to 6am, so I am here to get some 13 sacks of ice. Once we return after a good catch, we leave for the fish market which is located next to the Central Market,” said Sarat Kumar, a fisherman.
