AN Iranian company could be the latest player in WA's abattoir industry.
Iranian company, E-1 Airsa Meat Packers, is believed to be keen to make an offer for a 50 per cent share of the Shark Lake Abattoir in Esperance.
The move by E-1 Airsa is part of the company's plan to bring in quality sheepmeat to a growing Iranian population.
Former Kalgoorlie MP and facilitator for the Iranian company, Graeme Campbell, said the company wanted to buy a major part of the abattoir in order to ensure supply.
He said the company was also looking at doubling the capacity to 2000 sheep a day.
Earlier last year, Mr Campbell and E-1 Airsa Meat Packers Qeshm chairman Allie Shafaghee, started a push to re-open the Iran live export market with the potential to take 1.2 million sheep a year.
Iran's population is about 75 million people, but according Mr Campbell the population was expected to grow to about 100m people.
And like other major markets, Iran is moving to a meat-based diet.
He said E-1 Airsa was looking to send frozen meat as well as live sheep to Iran in order to keep up with demand in the growing country.
"The company also plans to bring in chilled meat as the live sheep won't be able to meet the demand," he said.
"People don't understand that this is a country of big meat eaters and they want continuity of supply and they see Australia as the source.
"(Shark Lake) is a good quality abattoir and there is no issue with the standards and the slaughter process will meet Islamic standards."
Mr Campbell said a number of Iranian representatives, including Mr Shafaghee, were due to visit Esperance later this month to settle the deal.
He said the one hurdle in the deal was the lack of Australian banking support.
"But the Iranian company is big enough to work around those hurdles and provide finance," he said.
"The lack of banking facilities is a real bummer and I have taken this up with the Department of Foreign Affairs.
"This is an enormous business and you would think that one of the Australian banks would see the potential.
"All the banks talk about their support for the rural sector but nothing would support the rural sector more than this."
Mr Campbell said he believed the Shark Lake abattoir was interested in the potential investment.
"They said they will need to increase the size of the abattoirs and do some upgrades," he said
"The current capacity is about 1000 sheep and they will need to double it, but whether they do that in one go or not, I'm not sure."
Brindley and Gayle Landmark Esperance agent Neil Brindley said the abattoir would have no issues in sourcing enough livestock if it did choose to double its operating capacity.
