Harold Gubnitsky, Executive Vice President of PetroAlgae

While they have a background in algae, PetroAlgae has moved on to other “micro-crops” that one could refer to as algae’s “cousin”. Nevertheless, they have been extremely successful in gaining international partnerships. Harold Gubnitsky, the Executive Vice President of PetroAlgae, answered a few questions about these partnerships and their micro-crop system.

1) According to PetroAlgae’s “Press Release” webpage, the company has entered into several international partnerships. In how many different countries do you have agreements?

Four or five countries but several others in process

2) What problems have you overcome working with international organizations and governments?

We have found more opportunities than problems. As we work with international organizations we need to think and act as they do in that specific part of the world which is often a positive for PetroAlgae. In general, we have found a strong appetite for our solutions as well as greater mandates, lower local operating cost as well as better locations for growth.

3) What advice would you give other companies in the algae industry that are looking to work internationally?

Most traditional algae companies are limited to producing feedstock to create biodiesel. We are not in the biodiesel feedstock business as we are instead creating “drop in fuels” and very valuable protein and food products. Traditional algae companies have a variety of challenges they are dealing with on both the technical as well as the business front.

4) Could you give a brief update on one or two of your most promising international partnerships?

We have very exciting projects and in both Asia and Latin America. Out of respect and per agreement we have committed to coordinate the public communication of project details with the our partners and expect to publicly share more regarding each of these projects over the coming months.

5) The majority of your international agreements involve providing PetroAlgae’s “technology” to an organization or government. What does this mean exactly?

PetroAlgae has developed an overall system using a variety of technologies and intellectual capital focused on growing, harvesting and processing certain microcrops. PetroAlgae’s core business is to license this set of technology to qualified well capitalized partners in various parts of the world.

6) Could you briefly explain your micro crop technology?

Micro-crops are multi-celled organisms and PetroAlgae’s systems grow these microcrops at rates much higher rate than what is seen in the wild.

7) To what extent is algae involved?

Although PetroAlgae has strong expertise in traditional algae, the microcrops we deal with are not focused on algae and instead focused on small multi-cell plant like organisms such as lemna which could be considered a cousin to traditional algae.

Harold Gubnitsky
Executive Vice President
PetroAlgae
http://www.PetroAlgae.com