Key Takeaways:
- Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) and Unibio International PLC have formed an 80:20 joint venture to construct the world's largest single-cell protein facility in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
- The plant will initially produce 50,000 tonnes of Uniprotein® annually, with plans to scale beyond 300,000 tonnes.
- Unibio's patented vertical loop bioreactor technology will convert natural gas into high-quality, non-GMO animal feed protein.
- Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026, with commercialisation targeted for 2028.
- The project aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 agenda and has received support from multiple Saudi government entities, including a gas allocation from the Ministry of Energy.
SIIG and Unibio Form Joint Venture for Landmark Protein Facility
The Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) and Unibio International PLC have announced the formation of an 80:20 joint venture to develop the world's largest single-cell protein plant in Saudi Arabia. The facility will be located in Al Jubail and will utilise Unibio's proprietary fermentation technology to produce Uniprotein®, a sustainable protein source for animal feed.
The partnership builds on SIIG's US$70 million investment in Unibio in 2023, following which both parties have been working toward bringing industrial-scale fermentation to the Kingdom.
Plant Scale and Production Targets
The Al Jubail facility will have an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of Uniprotein®, with a longer-term plan to expand output to over 300,000 tonnes. The plant is designed to reduce Saudi Arabia's reliance on imported animal feed and will supply both domestic and international markets.
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