Barramundi Group Ltd. announced that its Brunei operations have secured a facility offer of BND 15 million from a Bruneian financial institution. The facility, subject to finalisation and completion, will be used to fund the first phase of the Brunei expansion and pivot to BG 2.0. The financing allows to execute the 2 key components of this first phase: The construction of a RAS Broodstock and Hatchery center, complementing the existing RAS Nursery operations; and Immediate deployment of sea cages at existing sea lease, Pelong Rocks. This deployment is slated for mid 2024.

With the new broodstock and hatchery facility, the Brunei operations will be able to capitalise on the genetic nucleus from Singapore broodstock - naturally bred and selected over 20 years - to spawn and culture fry and fingerling within Brunei. The capacity of this facility will allow Brunei to be sufficient not only for the Phase 1 Pelong Rocks grow-out cages, with an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes, but also for Phase 2 requirements of the planned 3,000 tonne land-based RAS facility. The immediate deployment of Pelong Rocks will help to smoothen the gap in production and revenues, but also provide the Group with an opportunity to re-enter the China market - one of largest and key markets, previously unreachable with a Singapore-grown product.

The securing of this initial funding, in the present economic climate, and following the many difficulties the Group has faced in recent years, is encouraging. Company now focus on the work ahead to establishing the funding requirements of Phase 2 of BG 2.0, as well as the Group.