Saudis plan $200m pearl farm, fuel plant in Western Australia

A Saudi Arabian company plans to invest $200 million in WA to create a huge pearl farm and biodiesel production plant off the coast at Port Hedland.

Fisheries Minister Norman Moore is considering whether to give the Middle Eastern firm the go-ahead to grow and harvest millions of pearls and make 400,000 tonnes of algaederived fuel a year in the Indian Ocean.

The majority of the pearls and shell meats produced would be exported to Asian markets. Jeddah-based Technology System Trading hopes that the massive operation will become a tourist attraction to rival Broome’s Willie Creek Pearls.

The ambitious plans are seen as crucially important to diversify industry in the Pilbara as WA’s mining boom comes to an end.

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