National Prawn Company,Al-Laith, KSA and BASF, Ludwighafen, Germany have signed an agreement on collaboration in the field of algae technology. The partnership has been encouraged by the long-decade experience and unique expertise of both companies: Since the 1980s, National Prawn Company has developed knowledge and expertise in designing, building and operating a large system of man-made-lakes especially for the production of high-quality prawns for the market. Furthermore NPC is developing research programs on new algae species and sponsors aquaculture projects around the world.
BASF is the global leader in technologies relevant for growing and harvesting algae in open-lake-systems and in further processing the algae biomass into products used in beverages and dietary supplements.
Another important reason for this collaboration are the climatic conditions of the Red Sea desert coast line of Western Saudi Arabia that meet the environmental needs of sea-water algae and promote the growth of these organisms.
NPC`s chairman, Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Rajhi, said the contract once again marked the ability of Saudi Companies to be equal partners with world class enterprises like BASF. \"It also shows that we are capable of offering solutions for domestic and global needs. We are looking forward to a long cooperation with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company,”
“With our portfolio in the market segments of food, beverages and dietary supplements we are able to meet and anticipate future needs. At the same time we are constantly trying to enhance nutrition quality and promote technological innovations,” said Michael Ceranski, Senior Vice President of BASF`s Human Nutrition business unit. “Within these ambitious goals new partnerships like the collaboration with National Prawn Company are fundamental for us: NPC gives us access to more biomass from algae and to use and leverage the all-year non-changing climate conditions in Saudi-Arabia.”
Eng. Ahmad Rasheed Al-Ballaa, Managing Director of National Prawn Company, pointed out: “We are very pleased and proud that National Prawn Company and BASF have succeeded in establishing this cooperation, bringing together the best of both companies to create a unique aquaculture project”
National Prawn Company NPC is considered as one of the largest integrated marine aquaculture projects in the world. Its farms are fed by pristine clean water of the Red Sea. The products are marketed inside and outside the Kingdom to around 30 countries in the world, including UK, Spain, Italy, Japan, Korea, USA, China, Australia, and other countries.
