MOSES LAKE - Construction has begun on a 10-acre parcel of land off Randolph Road, the first stage of AstaReal Technologies' move to Grant County.

The company's presence in Moses Lake will provide about 45 new jobs for the area.

AstaReal, the manufacturing subsidiary of Japanese pharmaceutical company Fuji Chemical Industry, recently announced it will build a manufacturing plant in Moses Lake to produce natural astaxanthin.

Astaxanthin is an effective anti-inflammatory agent, according to a company statement. 

"We want to make people healthier and happier by delivering astaxanthin raw materials for health foods to people across the world, Fuji Chemical President and CEO Mitsunori Nishida said.

The plant will produce the natural astaxanthin by using photo-bioreactors to cultivate microalgae, a technology AstaReal has been developing since the 1990s.

On Monday, AstaReal officials said construction on the about 5,000 square foot facility should be completed by next July. An estimated $30 million will be invested during the initial construction phase, according to a company statement.

Operations at the plant are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014.

The project has been in the works since March 2012, but was given the designation of "Project Jackson" by the Grant County Economic Development Council.

The county's abundant water resources and competitive energy costs were major reasons Fuji Chemical decided to build the plant in Moses Lake, according to the company's press release. A skilled labor force, an open culture welcoming to Japanese companies and supportive local and state governments were also factors in the company's decision.

EDC Executive Director Jonathan Smith said AstaReal was one of the quickest projects the group has worked on in terms of the time between first contact and the start of construction. He said the company makes a good addition to the county's other industries.

"They are the only company in the world that manufactures this, (astaxanthin) this way," he said.

AstaReal's move to the area helps diversify the county's economy, which is always a good thing, Smith said.

"The more diverse the economy, the less susceptible it is to downturns," he said.

Smith said he is glad AstaReal will soon become a part of the Grant County community.

"The team from Fuji Chemical Industry and AstaReal are top caliber and we are thrilled to have them joining our community," he said.

Nishida also said he is eager for Fuji Chemical and AstaReal to become a member of the Grant County and Moses Lake community. He said he anticipates significant growth in the area and wants to contribute to that future development.

"This 30 million dollar investment shows our strong commitment to the future of this community," he said.