Desert Control takes off on the stock exchange and aims for a major Arab agreement: – We are probably better known outside Norway

WHAT: Desert Control has developed a patented nano-clay (LNC), which can turn decayed soil into arable land. Thus, for example, desert sand can be transformed into green areas.

The founder Kristian P. Olesen spent 15 years developing the technology in a workshop on Vassøy outside Stavanger. His son Ole Morten Olesen was also present. Around NOK 17 million from his own pocket agreed to the testing and development. Both the money and the expertise came from Olesen’s time in the oil industry.

HOW: Liquid NanoClay (LNC), the nano clay, is natural clay that is run through a mixing process together with water that divides the clay into tiny particles. The nano-clay is added to, for example, desert sand through certain spreading methods. Furthermore, the clay penetrates the sand surface, creating a natural bond between the sand particles. This makes the sand more sticky, and creates a new soil from which plants and green areas can grow.

EIERE: Among the largest owners we find a number of billionaires and well-known names: Desert Control founder Kristian Peter Olesen (14.49 percent), Autostore founder Jakob Hatteland (5.26 percent), kindergarten founder Einar Magne Jansen (5.29 percent ), the major bank JP Morgan (4.54 per cent) and Fjord Line owner Frode Teigen (4.02 per cent).

–
–
–

Read more: Pioneering agreement for Desert Control in Abu Dhabi

The big chance

During the first half of the year, Desert Control raised NOK 200 million and won its first commercial contract in Abu Dhabi. The contract can be a commercial breakthrough for the company, hopes top manager Sivertsen. This was the chance the company was waiting for.

The online newspaper meets two new employees: Harmeet Kaur from India and Jarle Horneland from Stord are both engineers. The duo had barely been employed by the company two weeks before they were sent on the first flight to Abu Dhabi.

– We staff and build culture quickly. We will export our projects to large parts of the world, and therefore we need many different types of people from different nationalities and backgrounds, says Sivertsen.

So far he has employed people from India, Pakistan, Iraq, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Iran, the Philippines, Thailand, Egypt, Sudan and Norway. The head office remains in Stavanger, Sivertsen assures.

Norwegian nano-clay is now used on a number of the agricultural properties and forests of the nature conservation giant Mawarid in Abu Dhabi to create arable food soil and reduce water consumption.

Desert Control knows that the camp works, after developing it for 12 years and having it validated from external for three years. But now Mawarid will see the effect the camp has with his own eyes.

– We produce vegetables such as cucumber, beetroot and basil, date palms and plant various trees in a number of areas. Believe it or not, sand and earth are not just sand and earth. We use the LNC camp in different places to show that it works in different types of soil, says Sivertsen.

The pilot project will end in November. Throughout October, the tests went as expected.

There are many indications that Desert Control will enter into a strategic partnership with Mawarid. In that case, it could mean a mass roll-out of liquid nano-clay from the Stavanger company in the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and North Africa.

– In the future, it will probably be more about how much clay we can produce, and less about who is ready to receive. By the end of the year, we can produce 180,000 liters of nano-clay per hour, says Sivertsen.

Read the story about Desert Control here: With oil technology, desert sand will become arable food soil

More famous abroad than at home

When local experts were to name them ten most interesting emerging companies which could pull the oil-heavy Stavanger region through the restructuring, the jury was unanimous. Desert Control should have every opportunity to become Norway’s most exciting company, according to the innovation experts.

“This may be a company that has gone somewhat under the radar of the population since they currently have few commercial interests in the local market, but they are nonetheless interesting globally,” he wrote. the jury on Desert Control.

Sivertsen also does not think that very many in Norway or Stavanger know what Desert Control does, but hopes it will change soon.

– We are probably better known outside Norway. I regularly get calls from the BBC and CNN who want interviews. We would probably have been better known if we had focused on the soil in Norway, says Sivertsen.

The income will come

Desert Control’s first commercial contract was worth NOK 3.4 million. So far, the company has not shared any expectations or objectives with shareholders regarding future turnover. Much is still about production figures and scaling.

– When can we expect recurring income?

– If we sign a strategic partnership with Mawarid at the beginning of next year, we will be able to expect a steady turnover, says Sivertsen.

The company’s business model outlines that Desert Control can make money in several ways:

• The company will deliver LNC treatment for agriculture, forestry and landscape planning that lasts for between three and five years. The price depends on the size of the area, the type of vegetation, crop, number of trees and several other factors.
• Periodic maintenance of the soil may provide additional income.
• Customers will be able to purchase a digital subscription where Desert Control monitors soil health and soil moisture so that customers’ soils do not drown in water. In addition, there is a premium product where customers can be notified if there are significant changes in the soil that can affect the crops.