Germany-based technology supplier GEA has secured a contract worth over €3m to build a large olive oil mill in Saudi Arabia.

The order from the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) also requires GEA to supply industrial equipment for the facility.

The contract is said to be part of the second phase of an on-going project and will expand the existing olive oil plant, which was constructed in 2016.

Works covered under the second phase include civil engineering, automation engineering, processes and all the required industrial equipment to manage the olive oil plant.

GEA Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa regional head Alvaro Martinez said: “The cooperative relationship between NADEC and GEA’s Olive Oil Center of Excellence began in 2014.

“This project is a very good example of GEA’s ability to deliver large projects anywher in the world and provide high added value to customers since not only the equipment but also the knowledge of the process is key.”

The project, which is situated in the region of Al-Jouf, is anticipated to encompass five million olive trees from a single farm of 3,000ha.

GEA will work with several Spanish machine manufacturers on a turnkey basis for the project.

Upon completion, the facility will be the largest and most modern olive oil mill in Asia.

Established in 1981, NADEC is one of the largest agricultural and food-processing companies in the Middle East and North Africa that offers products such as yoghurt, cheese, laban, fresh milk and fruit juices.

In March last year, Nadec announced that it will buy Al Safi Danone, a subsidiary of multinational food giant Danone.