NPC and Aramco to cooperate on environmental management
National Prawn Company seeks to benefit from oil giant’s extensive experience in environmental management.

Al-Lith: June 29, 2010: Senior executives of the National Prawn Company (NPC) and Aramco met in Al Lith on June 29, 30 and reviewed possible areas of cooperation in the field of environmental management. The discussions resulted in an agreement that NPC would meet Aramco experts in the near future to work with the oil giant and benefit from its long experience in the fields of knowledge management and environmental care, especially with respect to the marine environment.
The encounter took place as a result of a presentation given to Aramco executives, led by Ahmed Al-Saadi, Aramco’s Vice President of Pipeline, Distribution and Terminal division, who had gathered at NPC’s huge site for a mid-year meeting to assess the performance of the division in the Western Province and identify the goals achieved during the past six months.
After the meeting, Engineer/Ahmad Bin Rasheed Al Balaa of NPC delivered a special presentation about the company, its views on the development of the prawn industry and their strategic plans for the future. It was followed by a discussion between executives of the two companies concerning the facilities and the quantities of energy bought and consumed currently by NPC from Aramco-owned distribution stations in the region, and the growth trends of this during the years to come. NPC is currently engaged on a huge expansion project that when complete in a few years will cover an area of about five times the size of Bermuda and see the company’s output of top quality prawns soar to over 40,000 tons per annum.
On the second day, the whole delegation was escorted on a tour to see NPC’s operations and the different stages of production. The Aramco executives praised the growth and results achieved by NPC, whilst noting the effort being made to diversify the Saudi economy.
Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, is the main distributor for refined oil products in the kingdom and is a cornerstone of the Saudi economy with unmatched experience in the industry. NPC, a client of Aramco’s fuel oil and diesel which are used in the electricity generation station and in its land and marine equipment, is a much younger national company, yet has in a decade become a worldwide icon in the desert coastal agricultural industry, placing Saudi Arabia on the world’s map as a top exporter of prawns.

Healthy (Saudi) prawns are happy prawns

NPC and KAUST explore collaboration on research projects in Marine Biology and Biotechnology

Al Lith: May 24, 2010: Senior faculty members from King Abudullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) visited recently the National Prawn Company’s extensive aquaculture operations in Al Lith to explore opportunities for collaboration on a variety of mutually beneficial research projects.
The delegation met with Eng. Ahmad R. Al Balla, managing director of NPC, and other members of NPC’s senior management, who provided an extensive briefing and tour of the operations.
Dr. Abdullah L. Almojel, VP for University Relations for KAUST, who led the delegation, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate, “I think all the faculty members on the visit were impressed by scientific and engineering rigour that NPC applies to its operations”.
NPC operates one of the world’s largest integrated prawn farming operations in the world, has started a fish farming operation with Greater Amberjack and is also developing what will become one of the world’s largest sea cucumber aquaculture operation. In addition to aquaculture, NPC has significant projects in chitin production and phytoplankton (algae) development in its Marine Agriculture arm.
NPC engineered the development of its farms from the very beginning taking into account required water flows and minimising energy usage. In addition, its breeding programme is one of the most advanced in the world as the company constantly strives to improve its broodstock. The scientific approach NPC took from its inception in 1982 has resulted in a fully sustainable operation and allowed it to have the R&D expertise to develop new areas of business such as its marine agriculture project.
“We can see opportunities to collaborate across a range of fields from genome research, water management, marine biology and biotechnology. Any projects we develop together will provide value to our departments, our students and the Kingdom as a whole”, Dr. Almojel continued.
The KAUST delegation included members of the following faculties: Chemical and Life Sciences and Engineering; Red Sea Science & Engineering; Computational Biosciences; Water Desalination and Reuse Centre; and, Acting Provost, Dr. Brian Moran.
Eng. Al Balla said, “I look forward to establishing a strong relationship with KAUST. The development of marine sciences can, I believe, provide a strong platform for the development of aquaculture and associated industries in the Kingdom, which could help diversify the economy over the coming years”.
“NPC, as a leading global aquaculture company, is committed to helping develop the industry in Saudi Arabia. We are open to working with all academic institutions that wish to collaborate”, he continued, “We have a strong working relationship with KAAU’s marine sciences faculty and we would welcome a similar relationship with KAUST”.
NPC and KAUST hope to formalise a working relationship in the coming few months.

National Prawn Company appoints General Manager of Quality and Sustainability
New manager appointed to drive and develop NPC’s sustainability and quality programmes into organisation

Jeddah: March 9, 2010: The National Prawn Company (NPC), the world’s largest integrated prawn farms, has appointed Frédéric Millet as General Manager Of Quality & Sustainability. His brief is to oversee the sustainability programmes that form the basis of the company’s high quality products.
The appointment flags one of the core values of NPC’s desert coastal aquaculture business, which is not simply to maintain and preserve the environment in which the prawns and soon (sea cucumbers and greater Amberjack), breed, but to ensure the commercial longevity of the entire operation. “The ponds and culture have been meticulously engineered from the beginning. The real challenge is to scale up the business while working on these foundations of sustainable development and to ensure these are maintained, improved and embedded in our corporate culture to the highest possible level as NPC grows,” Millet explained.
Millet‘s task is to integrate all the components of prawn production from hatchery through to delivery to the customer in such a way that they are working towards the same goal of long-term sustainability. Millet’s role is cross-functional and five departments report to him directly: Laboratory Services, Biosecurity, Research & Development, Quality Systems, and Environmental Protection & Management.
“We do not push the ecosystem to its limit. We prefer to extend the system to the maximum that is sustainable through an “All In All Out” strategy within the capabilities of the local environment in a way that leaves it in good condition,” said Millet. NPC took the long-term view with a 20 year extendable strategy to develop a prawn industry in Saudi Arabia, rather than a five year plan for maximum short term returns.
Millet said that in many areas NPC had achieved an optimal balance, for example in the maintenance and preparation of the ponds in terms of their ecology and condition to avoid any outbreak of disease. “We need to expand and integrate this thinking across all non-farming aspects of the business,” he said.
All the component areas of the operation – breeding, feeding and cleaning have to work together in parallel and all at the same target. “Everyone needs to be focused on the same goal – that of sustainability.”
Millet was called in at the growth stage of the 250 km2 project to drive the company forward while ensuring that sustainability in all areas was further developed and maintained: “You need to anticipate the issues and this we did right from the start. So it is not a matter of overcoming existing problems. We want to continue to improve our systems and processes within a clear, practical framework for sustainability as we develop and scale up the business. The target, at the project’s full extension, is that we will have a minimal impact on the environment.” This involves a very complex and detailed computer-modeled water study to assess the environmental impact of the effluent, which is significantly below permissible international and Saudi standards.
Millet is not working in a vacuum, which helps considerably with implementation. “We have a team of very experienced professionals who have worked for many years in the business, some on huge projects with enormous challenges, and who bring a strong culture of environmentally friendly management with them,” Millet said.
A strong and practical approach to sustainability is very necessary as NPC does not use any chemicals or antibiotics at all in its grow out operation. The environment in which the prawns live is in delicate balance and it is managed with great care. NPC has low density stocking in its 10ha ponds, strict biomass thresholds, and carefully monitors and manages water quality and oxygen levels at all times of the day and night. “We use nothing at all except the very best environmental management practice to sustain the pond natural balance. Very few producers can say that.”
Millet’s long experience in aquaculture convinced him that there is no conflict between sustainability as a culture and sound business sense. “Getting the balance right ensures a long term benefit for the workers in the company and for the shareholders because the product is of the highest possible quality. Consumers value this highly and their custom decides whether the company remains in business,” said Millet “If we involve the environment, corporate culture and consumers into a truly sustainable system, then aquaculture has a bright future in Saudi Arabia.”

National Prawn Company creates employment opportunities for Al Leith Locals
H.E. Iyad Madani, Deputy President of The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Foundation for Housing Development and former Information Minster praises Public Private Partnership

Al Leith: February 14, 2009: The National Prawn Company, Saudi Arabia’s first venture into onshore aquaculture, received high praise for the opportunity it presented for local employment during an official tour of the region by H.E. Iyad Madani, Deputy President of The King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Foundation for Housing Development and former Information Minster.
During a visit to Al Ghala Village to inspect 186 newly built housing units, Madani took time out for a special stop at the National Prawn Company, which employs the majority of the residents of the village.
Engineer Ahmad bin Rasheed Al Balaa, General Manager of NPC, welcomed the former minister and offered him a brief summary of the company’s achievements as they toured the various departments.
During the tour of the NPC facilities, Madani praised the happy cooperation between the public and private sectors, of which this ground-breaking venture was one example. "It is nice to see such cooperation in serving our society," he commented. "On the one hand, the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Foundation provides housing for people and on the other, NPC offers them jobs."
During the tour of NPC, Al Balaa also highlighted the company’s efforts to encourage female employment, such as the workshop for female employee training. Built under the patronage of the Governor of Mecca in early 2008 to the international standards of the coastal farming industry and under supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Foundation, it recently witnessed the graduation of the first two groups of qualified employees.
The all-female processing plant was built at a cost of SR5 million and currently employs 20 staff although the factory can accommodate up to 400 employees. Al Balaa felt that lack of local knowledge of this new industry reduced the number of women applying for jobs, however this was, he said, a matter the company was working to resolve in cooperation with the Foundation. "Our main goal from this cooperation is to develop the skills of women in a conservative atmosphere that fits our religious teachings and traditions. The main aim is to assist families get a better income and for society develop," he said. Madani also visited local residents as this visit fell within efforts of social development for the region and pointed out that The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques cared for all the citizens of Saudi Arabia.

NPC to open Regional Sales Office in Dubai
Dubai, October 13 - National Prawn Company, the world’s largest fully integrated prawn farm, announced today that it would open a regional sales office in Dubai. The company also announced that it would also have a cold store in Dubai, which means that NPC can offer its customers more variety in its fresh and frozen prawn products. Customers will be able to buy containers, smaller loads such as pallets or even cartons.
The company intends to have closer and more direct relationships with customers within the food services industry and retail market.
"The combination of a team on the ground and cold store will make us very competitive in the UAE", said Mr Peter Fraser, NPC’s Director, Commercial Development, speaking at the Dubai Seafood Exhibition. "There is a great deal of demand for a high-quality and tasty prawns, especially among chefs, who not only look for those qualities, but also the highest standards of food safety. Our prawns satisfy all those demands", he added.
NPC’s new consumer retail product into the UAE market will be its Modified Atmosphere Packaging brand, which the company expects to launch in early 2010.
“The UAE is a sophisticated market and we expect strong demand for both fresh and cooked products in the MAP line”, said Fraser. NPC will produce roughly 45,000 tons of prawns by 2012 and expects to sell up to 25% in the region.

NPC APPOINTS SALES & MARKETING MANAGER FOR SAUDI ARABIA
28 September - National Prawn Company (NPC), the world’s leader in desert coastal aquaculture, has appointed Mr. Esam Yousef Sabr as Country Manager - KSA Marketing and Sales to drive and develop sales of NPC’s seafood brands within the Kingdom. Mr Sabr reports to Mr Peter Fraser, Director Commercial Business at NPC.
Mr Sabr joined the company in August and has been active in preparing for the launch of a new fresh prawn brand in Saudi Arabia, which is expected in the first quarter of 2010.
Mr Sabr has worked in sales and marketing for sixteen years in various companies throughout the country. He has several years experience in developing new products and services across a range of industries. Prior to joining NPC, Mr Sabr was the Deputy General Manager for 3 years at Almarai.
"Esam will bring a much needed boost to our sales and marketing efforts in the Kingdom", said Mr Fraser, "especially as we are about to launch our new product, which is not only a first for Saudi Arabia but for the rest of the GCC too. It is a very exciting time for the company".
Mr. Sabr will be responsible for strengthening relationships with buyers throughout the Kingdom and developing distribution networks for NPC. He will manage the marketing aspects of new brands and develop others as the brand grows.
“I am looking forward building our brands in the Kingdom with consumers, supermarkets and food service companies. NPC has very ambitious plans and I am happy to be a part of them”, said Mr Sabr.

ICD, NPC sign MOU to form joint venture prawn company
15 March – the Company signed a memorandum of understanding with The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB) to promote a leader in the global shrimp industry through the creation of International Prawn Holding Company (IPHC) with joint equity ownership between ICD and NPC.
ICD CEO and General Manager Khaled A. Al-Aboodi and Company general manager, Ahmed R. Al-Balla signed the joint venture agreement.
The agreement assumes tremendous importance against the background that the aquaculture sector is a strategic one for the Kingdom and other ICD member countries due to its direct impact on economic growth and food security. "ICD is thus committed to work with leading companies like NPC who has world-class aquaculture competencies to support their growth plans.
Al-Aboodi said the ICD views this partnership as part of its strategy to be the private sector development catalyst by enabling accelerated path for leading companies toward internationalization and access to other overseas markets and opportunities, he added that more initiatives are under preparation by ICD to encourage investors and businessmen in the region.
Al-Balla said NPC is conducting its business as a licensed shrimp farm in Saudi Arabia. The project is the world's largest fully integrated desert coastal aquaculture project located on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, NPC has all the components to support various activities for its environmental friendly project, including the facilities for Domestication, Growout, Processing Plant, Feed Mill and Central Lab, he added.
Al-Balla said NPC has adopted a proper scientific approach to its investment and nationalizing aquaculture technologies through numerous studies, researches and specialized tests and hire international expertise in the field of shrimp aquaculture.

High-level German delegation visits the company
February 2009 - The German Undersecretary -Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Gerd Muller and a delegation from the German Ministry of Agriculture accompanied by a delegation from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture and the German Consulate have visited the company as part of his program to visit some of the major agricultural companies in Saudi Arabia.
Eng / Ahmed Al.Ballaa, NPC general manager, has explained the company's strategy and approach based on food safety and sustainable development since starting and up to the current phase, he stated that the company takes into account a range of factors with securing the local environment being on top.
Eng. Al.Ballaa has emphasized on importance of such visits, which reflect the bright face of Saudi agriculture giving positive impacts on marketing of Saudi products in the European markets, bearing in mind that National Prawn Company is the only EU shrimp exporting company in the Middle East.
Dr. Gerd Muller said that National Prawn Company has brought forward an honorable and civilized image of a producing project of high standards of quality, and at the same time committed to development and protection of environment, he stated that this is a difficult equation; however, it has been achieved by National Prawn Company.

National Prawn Company wins 25th place among the 100 fastest growing companies in KSA
January 2009 - NPC started year 2009 with a valuable award by winning the twenty-fifth place among the fastest growing 100 companies in Saudi Arabia, this comes through participation in an international forum competition (award for the fastest growing100 companies in Saudi Arabia). The forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday 01/02/14230 (H) / 27/01/2009, Eng. Ahmed R. Al.Ballaa, NPC General Manager, received the prize at a grand ceremony attended by a large number of VIPs, businessmen and other people interested in the local and international economy.
Eng. Al.Ballaa said that this achievement has been reached - thanks to Almighty Allah- through proper approach adopted by the company to benefit from the economic resources found in this blessed country, such as sea water and salina lands (not suitable for agriculture or any other investment). These resources have been used wisely and in sustainable manner to create coastal development for rural communities by creating job opportunities for their sons and daughters, revitalization of costal areas economy and contribution to the advancement of the national income.
He also said that NPC has adopted a proper scientific approach in its investment, nationalizing aquaculture technologies through numerous studies, researches, and specialized tests and hiring of international expertise in the field of shrimp aquaculture.
He added that this achievement could be attributed also to the sincere efforts exerted by all employees of the company since starting and up to inauguration made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud in 2003 and the laying of the foundation stone for the giant expansion of the project to take the global leadership position in shrimp farming.