TRIOMF RDC FACTORY NON-OFFICIALLY OPERATING

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TRIOMF R.D.C. S.A.
Immeuble Elembo, 130 Boulevard du 30 Juin
Gombe Kinshasa
République Démocratique du Congo
Tel: +243 854 633 574
Fax: +27 86 541 7948
Email: info@triomfrdc.com | Web: triomfrdc.com
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WELCOME TO TRIOMF RDC
Having already established their roots in a number of African countries, TRIOMF RDC - a full affiliate of TRIOMF SOUTH AFRICA - has taken the plunge into the unknown territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo, ensuring very exciting times ahead as the agricultural giants continue to break barriers throughout the continent with the bar set at the highest of levels within the fertilizer industry.

This brand new initiative includes the building of an extremely sophisticated fertilizer production plant alongside a new harbour facility in the port of Boma.

But before delving into the ins and outs of this thrilling venture, perhaps, in grasping the massive impact of such a project, it is important to consider the following statement from Christo Grobler, TRIOMF SA CEO:

"We are not simply building a factory, we are actually establishing a fertilizing industry. We are introducing a lot of technology, transferring knowledge and intellectual property so it is a major thing."

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ABOUT
THE DRC

Straddled by the equator with one third lying in the North, the DRC is the second largest country on the continent and has an estimated population of 75 million, making it the fourth most populous country in Africa.

Although rich in natural resources, the country was ravaged by a series of wars - the most recent being the Kivu conflict which ended only towards the end of 2013, and has been left further limited by a lack of infrastructure but with many new developments in the pipeline, there is renewed hope among its people.

Along with the capital Kinshasa, the country's other largest cities are both mining hotspots - Lumbumbashi and Mbuji-Mayi - and the largest exports are raw minerals with China accepting over 50% of exports during 2012.

INTERESTING FACT:

The Congo River system dominates the region topographically along with the rainforest it flows through. The river basin (which includes the river and all of its myriad tributaries) covers an area of 1 000 000 km, occupying nearly the entire country and forms the backbone of the economy and transportation.
fact-river

AGRICULTURE

Deemed as an area of the economy loaded with plenty of potential, the production of cassava, yams, plantains, rice and maize has stagnated since independence in 1960. To further complicate matters, the country is handicapped by a poor internal transportation system. But despite all the limiting factors, TRIOMF has acknowledged the several possibilities in the region and aims to eradicate the high costs involved with importing fertilizer by manufacturing locally, creating employment and ultimately building the industry as a whole.

The agricultural sector supports two thirds of the population and is divided into subsistence and commercial farming. It is especially the former that has sparked TRIOMF's involvement taking the dire domestic food production statistics into account.

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SPECIALITIES
Triple10 logo

FOLIAR SPECIALITY

Triple Ten (10:10:10) combines the best of conventional inputs with cutting-edge organics to provide a unique high production option for both fruit and vegetable producers as well as broadacre farmers. The developers of Triple Ten (Nutri-Tech Solutions - NTS) promote an approach coined "Fusion Fertilizing", where the performance and sustainability of N-P-K and trace element blends are dramatically enhanced through the inclusion of potent organics.

Carbon-buffering and natural chelation are two of the processes involved in the boosting of N-P-K components. The N-P-K elements in the Triple Ten formulation are derived from "hot-mix" N-P-K. "Hot-mix" N-P-K is manufactured using a special process developed by NTS. Three incompatible N-P-K concentrates are blended, creating a violent chemical reaction. The fusion generates such extreme heat that the mixture can "boil" for up to two days. When the solution has returned to normal temperature, the three ingredients have formed a totally different chemical compound. This potent, new N-P-K contains low sodium levels, has a neutral pH and is non-corrosive. The negatives associated with the parent materials are no longer present yet offer an important gain: Plant growth is promoted by the energy released by fertilizers rather than by the actual fertilizers themselves. The clean, powerful N-P-K chemical component is complimented by the addition of a complete range of chelated trace elements. This high quality N-P-K/trace element base is then used to build a totally new kind of fertilizer, involving natural growth promoters, micro-organisms, amino acids, enzymes, protein, colloidal minerals and vitamins.

Natural growth promoters, enzymes, broad-spectrum trace elements, amino acids, vitamins and micro-organisms are some of the components in Triple Ten which are required for crop quality and maximum yields.

triple 10

tri amino logo
BALANCED NUTRITION

This high-performance, quick-release potassium/amino acid combines nutritional and fast absorbency abilities for instant results in stressed crops and also boosts growth and development.

Tri-Amino is a complete organic, high-carbon, high-brix plant extract. Its composition and perfect ratios of all the essential plant nutrients makes it a perfect partner to all inorganic (high salt index) fertilizers with the high humic acid content acting as an ideal buffer. A balanced nutrition program for any crop will take chemical, physical and biological aspects of the soil into consideration. Of these three, the "biological" component has traditionally suffered the most and is the one best addressed by Tri-Amino, when taking its full complement of 19 amino acids into account.

Tri-Amino will be used as a complete fertilizer. Of the trace elements – all of which are required in very low amounts – silicon (Si) is considered high and available in plants. Fertilizers feed the plant while Tri-Amino feeds the soil making both equally important for viable and sustainable crop production.

One can say that Tri-Amino acts as a booster for plant energy especially during a crop's reproductive stage. When it comes to maize, wheat, soya and peanuts, foliar spraying assists in building up a resistance to disease as well as bolstering yields during the reproductive phase.

triamino

MicrosZ logo

IDEAL SUPPLEMENT

Micros Z is a simple product which is mainly used to compliment other liquid fertilizer products. It consists of high levels of various inorganic trace elements, and will usually accompany another product in volumes determined by the requirements of a specific crop.

Micros Z acts an ideal enhancer to TRIOMF POP-UP, TRIOMF Bakgat, TRIOMF Mushe Maize and other TRIOMF liquid fertilizers, specialities and foliar feeds. Micros Z can also be used on its own with success as an application rich in trace elements.

The administration as a liquid application in the furrows is essential considering the zinc at 50 000 dpm. Zinc and maize go hand in hand therefore Micros Z can also help the plant in rectifying the inducing manganese and zinc shortages following a glyphosate spraying.

Another important use is the application as a foliar spraying for pecan nuts throughout the season due to its zinc deficiency. Together, Tri-Amino and LAPP work in perfect synergism. The composition of the micros promotes plant health considering the strengthening abilities of manganese, copper and zinc in the fight against fungal infections.

Also contributing to the functioning of the legume nodules are the elements cobalt and molybdenum which further highlight the necessity of furrow administration as well as one or two foliar sprayings during the season.

micro Z

Pop-up-logo

STARTER FEED
Reg. No: B4802

POP-UP is a concentrated suspension ideal for soil and foliar-application, uniquely designed to accelerate germination and to strengthen the new seedling unlike any other product in its class. POP-UP ensures quick and even germination and promotes strong root-development, equipping the young plant to have improved resistance against environmental stress and disease. POP-UP contains elements crucial for the establishment of nitrogen-binding rhizobium bacteria. Micro- elements such as boron and silicon as well as vitamins, humates and amino acids serve as prolonged nutrition for the seedling prior to germination. Unsurpassed results obtained from clinical tests have proven POP-UP to be the best start-up growth promoter and root development product available on the market.

With the use of a start-up booster like POP-UP, the young and mature plant will require less conventional fertilizer, reducing production input costs. A growth support product developed in South Africa, when applied in the plant furrow, will aid in establishment and encourage vigorous seedling establishment. The use of POP-UP can also minimise the necessity to replant due to unfavourable conditions that lead to poor stands. Where regular wind damage occurs on crops, especially on young plants, POP-UP will aid through ensuring fast and healthy growth in the early plant growth stages.

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Liquid Lime-logo

SOIL PREPERATION
Reg. No: B4806

Liquid Lime is a pre-plant soil preperation product which enhances and improves soil quality and soil health. Liquid Lime is easily applied directly to the plant-band. The application of Liquid Lime is essential to start a succesful plant cycle.

Properties and benefits of Liquid Lime:

An ultra micro-fine calcium carbonate slurry
Manufactured from a high purity white marble (limestone)
Contains an appropriate biocide
A colloidal suspension and reactive substance
Disperses very effectively into soil due to it being colloidal
Has a 100% Relative Resin Suspension Rate
Has 100% immediate efficacy in neutralizing surface-soil acidity in the plant-band
Has an intensity factor of 100%
Liquid Lime is a limestone suspension which acts as a multi-purpose application product. The calcium carbonate component is super-fine meaning fast reaction with targeted application, whether used as a soil or leaf application. Calcium is needed in large quantities in soil because plants and crops need sufficient quantities of calcium for healthy growth and production. Therefore, Liquid Lime will solve the problem whenever a case of calcium deficiency is detected in the soil or if the calcium uptake is limited by factors such as low pH, acidic soils or improper nutrient balances. Liquid Lime ensures highly reactive calcium application when applied to the soil due to micro-fine particle size, high neutralization capability and high-specific mass. Therefore soil pH will increase in the immediate surrounds and plant nutrition will be optimized. Liquid Lime is very smooth, easy to handle and suspends well in water meaning it is well suited as a foliar application for calcium nutrition. From a plant nutrition point of view, Liquid Lime hits the target.

liquid lime

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MUSHE CASSAVA
ABOUT CASSAVA

Native to South America, Cassava is extensively cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions for its edible starchy root, making it a major source of carbohydrates much like the sweet potato.

Adding to its popularity, especially amongst subsistence farmers, is its tolerance to adverse soil conditions. As a result, it is able to obtain satisfactory growth on very acidic/infertile soils which further acts as a deterrent to fertilizer usage.

MUSHE CASSAVA

Above: The leaves of a Cassava plant as well as the manioc tuber which has a woody textured skin and fleshy, white interior.

INTERESTING FACTS:

After rice and maize, cassava is the third largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics
Cassava is a major staple food in developing countries and in the DRC, cassava consumption is the highest in the world
It is regarded as one of the ultimate food security crops on the continent
Each Congolese consumes an average of 453kg of fresh cassava per year
Cassava leaves are the leading leaf vegetables consumed in the DRC (Kinshasa in particular where an average household of 7 to 8 people consumes about 4kg of cassava per week)
Although one of the most climate-resilient crops around, this vital staple is highly-susceptible to disease
But with the pros far outnumbering the cons, the following quote should be kept in mind, highlighting the prominence of to further gain a better understanding of just how prominent cassava is.

"Cassava is a very important crop in tropical countries. More than 800 million farmers grow cassava as their staple food in the tropics, including Africa." – Leena Tripathi, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (ITA) April 2014.

SO WHY MUSHE CASSAVA?

muche cassava label kleinvepakking illustrations engels 20141010

Although it is a known fact that the cassava plant responds well to fertilization, small-scale farmers in the DRC area as well as the rest of Africa are inclined to not make use of fertilizer due to the following factors:

Lack of access to transport (farmers are therefore unable to get fertilizer to their farms)
Affordability
General success of growing the highly-tolerant cassava without fertilizer
Enter Mushe Cassava.

Even if fertilizer was applied, it still wouldn't be able to provide nearly the same as what Mushe Cassava offers.

It contains nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, magnesium, sulphur and various micronutrients as compared to the standard NPK fertilizer (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium).

Energy is supplied to the growing plant via phosphate and potassium is associated with the movement of water, nutrients and carbohydrates within the plant which stimulates early growth, increases protein production, maximises water usage and ups resistance to insects and disease.

The foliar feed further contains amino ingredients such fulvic and humic acids, enzymes and super concentrated micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, boron and molibdenym which promotes enzyme reductase, protein synthesis, chlorophyll production, growth regulation, the development of new cells and roots and the activation of nitrate reductase.

Together these components help the cassava plant in reaching its maximum growth potential and in obtaining a state of being supercharged and robust, ready to offer the best in cassava production and yield.

Adding to Mushe Cassava's appeal is the practicality of the product (easy to carry), as well as the affordability and the instant results once the foliar spray has been applied.

A typical small-scale farmer would require only 2L for about half a hectare, giving the plant immediate access to the entire solution available in various volumes.

Important to note is the plant's tendency to extract large quantities of potassium from the soil, more than any other element and if grown continuously on the same soil, a potassium deficiency is likely to develop.

This fact is illustrated by the following example:

Each ton of fresh roots harvested contains about 3kg of potassium; with a production of 30 tons of roots per hectare, about 90kg of potassium is extracted from the soil. Therefore, continuous cassava production without adequate potassium fertilization can rapidly deplete soil reserves of this nutrient.

Although K is not a basic component of protein, carbohydrates or fats, it plays an important role in their metabolism. Potassium stimulates net photosynthetic activity of a given leaf area and increases the translocation of the photosynthates to the tuberous roots. This results in low carbohydrate levels in the leaves, further increasing photosynthetic activity

By using Mushe Cassava, the existence of the deficiencies associated with this particular crop will be eradicated taking the comprehensive nutrient supply of the product.

mushe maize

TRIOMF PRODUCT CATALOGUE

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TRIOMF STRAIGHTS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION N% P% (P2O5) K% (K2O) S%
STRAIGHTS
UREUM GRANULAR 46% 46.00
UREUM PRILLS 46% 46.00
UREUM POLITAIN (G) 46% 46.00
UREUM "NITREX" 46.00
MAP 33 11.00 52.00
MAP 33+.75%Zn 11.00 52.00
DAP 38% 18.00 46.00
DAP 38% POLITAIN 18.00 46.00
KCL 60.00
KIESERITE
Ammonium Sulphate Fine 21.00 - - 24.00
Ammonium Sulphate Granular 21.00 24.00
TRIOMF PRODUCT CATALOGUE

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TRIOMF COMPOUNDS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION N% P% (P2O5) K% (K2O) S%
NPK 17:17:17+S 17.00 17.00 17.00 3.00

Politain-logo

ORGANIC COATING
Reg. No: K9485

Nitrex logo

THE RED FERTILIZER
Reg. No: K9484

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION N% P% (P2O5) K% (K2O) S%
NPK 17:17:17 17.00 17.00 17.00
NPK 15:15:15 15.00 15.00 15.00
NPK 12:24:12 12.00 24.00 12.00
NPK 22:10:16 22.00 10.00 16.00
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION N% P% (P2O5) K% (K2O) S%
NPK 17:17:17 17.00 17.00 17.00
NPK 15:15:15 15.00 15.00 15.00
NPK 12:24:12 12.00 24.00 12.00
NPK 22:10:16 22.00 10.00 16.00
politain ws

nitrex ws

TRIOMF PRODUCT CATALOGUE

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THE JOURNEY BEGINS
OPENING DOORS

In March 2014, TRIOMF RDC officially opened its headquarters in Kinshasa headed by Managing Director, Nicolaas du Plessis and Martin Lukaya M.W, who was appointed by the government as Deputy Managing Director. Together the duo set up the office and took care of recruiting the right people into the right places in a very short time.

JOURNEY BEGINS

Getting started: The TRIOMF RDC team during one of there earlier meetings. From left to right, Nada Kashema, Nicolaas du Plessis, Martin Lukaya M.W., Arnold Mbuku and Didier Mbadu (bottom left).

ADJUSTING TO THE DRC WAY OF LIFE

It was during this period that all the necessary preparation and adjustments took place like setting up the office and a "home away from home". Obviously a lot of acclimatisation took place as well as adapting to the "closed door" approach as adopted by the Congolese.

Relationship building also proved vital in building a cordial environment. Although a partnership with the government was securely in place, the locals remained sceptical and it was only after the launch of another DRC government initiative "Parc Agro de Industriel" in Bukanga Lonzo in July, which saw the people warming up to the idea. This was further encouraged by the arrival of containers at Boma which helped everyone in envisioning and realizing what was to follow.

It was during this groundbreaking week that the members of the team were introduced.

MEET THE TEAM

NICOLAAS DU PLESSIS
Arrived in February 2014 and has been responsible for overseeing all the operations in the DRC including Parc Agro in Bukanga Lonzo, the headquarters in Kinshasa as well as the Boma initiative. Alongside his deputy, he has helped in giving farmers and local a sense of belief in what TRIOMF RDC has to offer.

MARTIN LUKAYA M.W. – DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR
As the main representative of the government in the company, Martin is responsible for gathering all the information regarding famers in the Kinshasa and surrounding areas as well as keeping in touch with them. He also took care of all the administrative tasks (in French) and made sure that all the construction permits needed to start building the factory in Boma were in place.

DIDIER MBADU – FREIGHT & CUSTOM OFFICER
As the customs and freight officer Didier handles all the customs department tasks, makes sure all the DGI, DGDA and all customs policies are respected. Also does all the vehicles insurances and is the direct contact with DGDA.

ARNOLD MBUKU – PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN OFFICER
Appointed as the Procurement & Supply Chain officer, Arnold made sure that all the office equipment needs were taken care of including printers, paper, folders, pens etc. He is also in charge of all the procurement of equipment needed at Boma and Bukanga Lonzo.

Other responsibilities include:

Overseeing human resource and logistic duties;
Human resources: maintaining human resource staff by recruiting, selecting, and orientating employees;
Logistics: involved in transportation, and monitoring the flow of goods
NADA KASHEMA – ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT
Assists with all the minutes of meetings, as well as other administration such as the writing, typing and distribution of letters to various institutions. She is also in charge of all the import licences of all the incoming equipment from South Africa and other countries and makes sure there is a constant supply of all the necessities needed in the office.

DAVINIA NYOTA – DEPUTY PROCUREMENT & SUPPY CHAIN OFFICER
Davinia takes care of various tasks within the procurement department as well as administration. She is also responsible for human resource and logistics management all under the watchful eye of the Procurement and Supply Chain officer Arnold Mbuku.

ULLA KALAMBA – RECEPTIONIST
Ulla makes sure that all the company's visitors are well received and answers the phone. She also helps type letters which are sent to various institutions.

EVERYTHING IN PLACE

In what is the norm for any new company of this magnitude, a huge volume of paperwork had to be in place as well as several processes followed. Examples include registration papers for the fertilizers and sending all the documents to the designated institutions for tax exoneration purposes (during March 2014).

Besides the admin, there was an influx of containers arriving from South Africa. However, the process was slowed down due to complications at customs resulting in a major delay in getting everything through the harbour but the government stepped in and helped to try and quicken matters.

Meanwhile, advertising regarding the new construction had started on various platforms including print, radio and TV. As the word spread, a lot of behind the scenes work was underway in trying to get the site ready at Boma.

BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS ... BUT MOSTLY PROGRESS

Listed below are some of the issues the team were faced with:

The national transport agency (known as ONATRA) was still unsure about the border of the premises and because of this uncertainty, the outlay of the buildings changed almost three times in trying to fit in.
Sourcing of building material like cememt, gravel, sand as well as labour
Once the demolishing of existing buildings took place, there was a rather unexpected discovery in the form of the water table which was extremely high presenting challenges to the design of the foundation (see Foundations below)
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS: (March to April)

The transport needs of management were taken care of through the purchase of vehicles from CFAO Equipment. This turned into a long procedure resulting from the difficulty of having the cars delivered without paying taxes (Agricultural companies are exonerated from paying taxes)
Marketing research was conducted and a letter together with fertilizer samples were sent to the OCC for quality purposes
Towards the end of April, the last batch of office equipment arrived before being installed within a week
Willie Immelman (Chief Project Manager DRC) arrived from South Africa and immediately got going with quotation upon quotation (which proved to be either costly or of poor quality)
BOOM!

The Boma site became a hub of activity mid-April 2014!

The cars mentioned above were finally delivered and the arrival of not only people but also tractors and containers.

Nicolaas and Martin approached the government for assistance in removing the satellite from Boma which was acting as an obstruction to construction.

There was further progress in the form of new additions to the team when two Asset and Resource Managers arrived which helped alleviate the pressures associated with the amount of paperwork needing to be processed.

In terms of building material, PPC jumped on board in providing cement.

The good news didn't stop there. The Customs office announced that there would no longer be delays in having the imported equipment delivered and this new, time-saving procedure was implemented by some of their agents operating in both Matadi and Boma.

IRONING OUT THE CREASES

In June 2014, TRIOMF RDC opened an account with Rawbank, a leading banking institution in the DRC.
There were further additions to the workforce – a receptionist was hired in Kinshasa as well as an accountant in Bukanga Lonzo.

A month later, promotion of the fertilizer company got underway as well as the sourcing of potential clients. The launch of Parc Agro ("Parc Agro de Industriel") in Bukanga Lonzo provided a major highlight of 2014 and was well attended by a number of dignitaries.

During October 2014, the two directors met with the Congo Farmer's Union (FU) in Lubumbashi at the end of the month to discuss Boma, the new home of fertilizer in the Congo.

ARRIVAL OF FERTILIZER

arrival of fertilizer

With all the incoming shipments of fertilizer, Nicolaas is ensuring that everything runs smoothly at the two warehouses situated in Kinshasa (pictured above) and Matadi.

WAREHOUSING

It has required pinpoint accuracy and planning in establishing warehousing facilities in the DRC. Some of the challenges have included access routes, price security and ensuring that everything is waterproof, just to name a few.

Matadi was the starting point, acting as a delivery facility from where the products are distributed from. With the completion of the plant construction set for April this year, the team had to focus on storage and applicable timeframes.

Using Matadi as the base, delivery points across the country were identified. The capital Kinshasa was the first obvious choice in which a healthy supply of small-scale farmers operate. Kimpese, near the town of Kwilu Ngongo in Bas-Congo was also identified because of its rich sugar cane farming history and also plays host to Feronia, the largest arable farming and oil palm plantation company in the DRC.

Of all the areas, Kinshasa proved the most difficult in setting up facilities due to the lack of short-term rental agreements, the high costs and finding the right place at the right location.

Boma is next on the list for warehousing but in container format before moving on to Muanda which is based at the mouth of the Congo River, followed by Cabinda.

CHALLENGES FOR 2015

Besides the no.1 priority of finishing the plant at Boma by the end of April, listed below are some of the other entries that were on the TRIOMF RDC "to do" for 2015:

Promoting the launch of the Boma factory through advertisements via TV, pamphlets etc.
Developing a marketing strategy with an emphasis on small-scale farmers
To continue advertising on Bizcongo (local business listing)
Paying attention to the financing of famers – in the past, farmers received government grants for numerous projects, all of which were unsustainable and have since stopped running
Farmers need to be trained and educated on how to use fertilizer etc.
Product information – Awareness needs to be created and established
A marketing team needs to be set up
The dilemma surrounding packaging size needs to be addressed. The majority of the people can't afford to buy 50kg bags of fertilizer and are now buying 1kg pre-packed fertilizer from traders.
COMPANIES THAT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MAKING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE:

Bolloré Logistics – Africa, is a key role player in the delivery of the containers into the DRC
PPC-Cement and IMD SPRL – Responsible for the cement supply
Afritek – Resposible for the demolition of buildings and gravel supply
CREC 7 – A Chinese company responsible for the biggest supply of gravel from Matadi
ONATRA – Responsible for water and electricity supply on the premises
SAFAO – Responsible for the delivery of vehicles
Standard Bank
ON THE GROUND
THE LOWDOWN FROM A BUILDER'S PERSPECTIVE

As of November 2014, the team was kept busy with the compacting and casting of floors. The batching plant is able to deliver about 75m³ of concrete per day which means about 250m² (45m³) of flooring can be completed daily. The rest of the concrete is for storm water, foundations and flooring out of other buildings.

Of the 16 000m² factory building surface, 5600m² has been concreted.

The area of the premises is 3 ha of which everything has to be under concrete.

In addition to this, 2 ha of the harbour has to be concreted in order to make it more accessible to the factory when boats have to be offloaded.

what happening what happening 2
The team is determined to cover as much as they can with concrete before the rainy season (January to April) arrives and is casting of the floors remains a matter of urgency.

Furthermore, the following is still in progress: (towards the end of 2014)

Construction office is nearing completion
Foundation of ablution blocks has been poured
Foundation of lab and operations office is also in progress
NUMBERS – THE SIZE OF IT ALL

SOME INTERESTING FACTS:

The steelwork of the structure weighs roughly about 900 tons
About 200t of rebar was used in the walls, foundation and floors of the factory building
The area holding the dry bulk material, if filled to capacity, will be able to store 80 000 tonnes
The material will be dumped into the bunker area by means of a suspended conveyor system in the roof which is fed by a bucket elevator
Dry bulk material stored in the bunkers will be offloaded via trucks from cargo vessels in the harbour which will then offload into hoppers next to the factory which will feed the bucket elevator going into the roof which in turn feeds the suspended conveyor.
This system will have a capacity of 100t
Such a conveyor has four main advantages:

Stockpiles of up to 10m high are obtainable (which would be otherwise not possible)
The contamination caused by trucks offloading inside bunker areas is eliminated, especially when raining
Double handling and stockpiling of dry material is eliminated (if trucks were used to offload inside bunkers) versus from the roof
When fertilizer in bulk is stockpiled with a loader, a small percentage is crushed (which is undesirable in the final product). This is eliminated through the use of the suspended conveyor.
AND FINALLY: A total of 30 000t of concrete will have been used upon completion of this project!

FOUNDATIONS – MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL

As mentioned earlier, there were some unexpected discoveries surrounding the foundation.

Here's why, according to Willie Immelman, the Chief Project Manager:

"After arriving in April 2014, we had to assist with the demolishing of existing buildings belonging to ONATRA. Afritec (a local construction company) had the contract for demolition which took them nearly two months to finish as well as removing all the building rubble. As a result of this, we fell two months behind.

After having started with the digging of the foundations, we discovered that the area we had earmarked for construction was in a reclaimed "vlei" area and was filled up to the current level with sand pumped from the river about 60 years ago.

Afritec had dug test holes to determine the ground composition prior to construction but the swampy material wasn't detected due to the limited access as a result of the vehicles, scrap steel and buildings blocking the way.

Upon discovering this, the entire civil and foundation design had to change.

We also discovered that the water table during summer (which drops in winter) was only about 1.5m under the floor level of our building. Considering our foundations for the bunker walls are 6m high which drops 1.7m, meant we would be under the water table. We therefore dug 12 sumps and managed to drain the water table in that area.

We had to dig deeper in order to build a platform for the foundation to stand on and therefore brought in about 1200t of rocks (up to 500mm in diameter) to stabilize the ground. We also enlarged the footprint of the building by 20% to compensate for the instability of the in situ material."

This mammoth task along with the delay of demolishing buildings cost the team three months.

CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS:

The team has worked around the clock keeping the intended completion date in mind and is constantly striving to maintain their industrious work rate.

Pictured below, the workshop:

current state of affairs current state of affairs 2

About 60% of the plant will be manufactured on site. The amount of welders will be increased to 10 as the conveyor system is fitted into the roof and for the construction of the plant.
THE SALT OF THE EARTH

All workers are employed locally.

Only semi-skilled workers were available so they had to be trained to meet the required standard. There are currently nine teams amounting to 190 people employed in total.

Batching plant team
2 x concrete teams
2 x builder teams
1 x concrete slab preparation team
2 x shutter teams (steel shutters)
1 x wood shutter team
Workshop (welders)
Machine operators
Workshop (machine maintenance)
ARRIVAL OF NEW COMPACTOR

arrival of new compactor 2 arrival of new compactor
The new compactor arrived towards the end of October 2014 which made the preparation of floors a lot easier as compactors are not easily obtainable in this region and are extremely expensive.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Due to the high rainfall of this region during summer, special storm water drainage had to be constructed to accommodate the higher rainfall.

The factory's building floor level was raised by 200mm to make sure no flooding could cause water to damage the fertilizer. To achieve this, over 7000 tonnes of filling was brought in.

PROJECT SUMMARY

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Hooffoto Boma Factory Complete

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FERTILIZER FACTORY READY FOR BUSINESS
After months of hard work, the TRIOMF Fertilizer factory in the Democratic Republic of Congo has finally been completed. This $90 million project commenced in August 2013 with negotiations between TRIOMF South Africa and DRC government. This factory aims to employ over 2000 employees, offering professional agricultural advice and ultimately enhancing food production. The 3 hectare site is home to a 14 000 m2 factory building with a 25 000 ton capacity. This factory will be the new home of fertilizer within the DRC with state-of-the-art equipment like; a bucket elevator system, bulk off-loading pits, a batching plant, a suspended conveyor system and the newest in technology weighbridges. The construction team had to overcome a few hurdles in the process like the flood that struck the area, destroying parts of surrounding buildings. The team’s expertise showed when the factory was kept completely dry due to the fact that the factory building was built 300 mm above the flood level. Maize meal and fertilizer has already been delivered to the factory for business to start, ensuring that TRIOMF becomes the biggest in the fertilizer industry in DRC.

STATE-OF-THE-ART FERTILIZER FACTORY IN THE PORT OF BOMA FINALLY COMPLETED
The TRIOMF Fertilizer factory, on the port of Boma in the DRC, has been completed and is ready for business. The entire team responsible for this magnificent structure of state-of-the-art equipment and technology have outdone themselves and can be proud of this achievement.

Hooffoto Factory Complete

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HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT JOSEPH KABILA VISITS DRC CONTAINER SHOPS IN MATETE
These container shops distribute locally produced maize meal to the local population. The maize crops were grown on the S.E. du Parc Agro de Bukanga-Lonzo Agricultural park. For more information on this project, please visit parcagro.com

Learn more: parcagro.com

BOMA FACTORY COMPLETE
The HAEVIC team has flown the completed factory site at Boma, on the banks of the Congo river to showcase the astonishing goal the construction team has reached in completing the first-of-its-kind fertilizer manufacturing plant in the DRC. As the video showcases, the factory is now completed and ready for production.

Read more on: haevic.co.za

FLOUR BEING DELIVERED
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OFF-LOADING THE FIRST LOAD OF MAIZE SEED
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FLOOD RAINS, NO MATCH FOR FACTORY
The recent flood over the weekend presented no match for the clever design of the TRIOMF Fertilizer factory nearly completed on the port of Boma. Although the weighbridges was completely under water, the load cells used in the weighbridges are sealed units to prevent damage in situations such as these. The factory was completely dry even though other buildings on the site and surrounding area was under water – the team constructed the factory floor 300 mm above the flood line to prevent flooding and damage in this state-of-the-art plant. According to the proof of the past weekend, it is safe to say that the team has achieved their goals in keeping the factory dry and keeping damages to a minimum.

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CONGO RAINS, NO MATCH FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART FERTILIZER FACTORY
Heavy rains in DRC caused flooding at the site of the new TRIOMF Fertilizer factory on the port of Boma, over the weekend. The water level rose throughout the weekend and flooded most of the site collapsing one of the perimeter walls of a nearby site. Flooded areas included the weighbridges, living quarters and office buildings opposite the plant.

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WEIGHBRIDGE COMPLETE
The exit and entrance weighbridge have been completed.

WEIGHBRIDGE COMPLETE

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OUTER BUILDINGS NEARING COMPLETION
The Onatra warehouse, dining hall and operations offices are almost complete. The operations office has been furnished and is ready for the opening of the plant in February 2016. The team have certainly outdone themselves in completing this state-of-the-art fertilizer plant.

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FERTILIZER BEING OFF-LOADED
The team at Boma are stocking up in preparation for the plant’s opening in February 2016.

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PLANT TAKING SHAPE QUICKLY
The mixer has been set in place and the plant is taking shape quickly in preparation for the official opening of the plant at the end of February 2016.

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BATCHING PLANT
The team is currently constructing the last pieces of the batching plant within the factory.

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MAKING HEADWAY ON ONATRA WAREHOUSE
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PERSONNEL DINING HALL NEARING COMPLETION
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BULK OFF-LOADING BAYS
The plant’s bulk off-loading bays are almost complete in preparation for production to start at the end of February 2016.

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WEIGBRIDGE NEARING COMPLETION
The weighbridge at the site of the new fertilizer plant is almost completed and will be operational in time for the opening at the end of February 2016.

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SUSPENDED CONVEYOR SYSTEM
The suspended conveyor system has been installed in the roof of the plant structures. These conveyor systems will facilitate transportation and moving the fertilizer within the factory.

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LAST WALL TO BE CASTED
The last structural wall is set to casted this week which will complete the entire main structure of the factory.

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OFFICES READY FOR BUSINESS
The offices have been completed end entirely furnished in preparation for the launch and opening of the plant at the end of Ferbruary 2016.

hooffoto office

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SEE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME
The construction team on the Boma site have outdone themselves. A picture definitely tells a thousand words. The progress they have made from the beginning of 2014 until now is astounding.

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SCHEDULED TO BE OPERATIONAL IN FEBRUARY 2016
As discussed in previous communications, construction is underway to complete the state-of-the-art fertilizer factory in Boma, DRC. The factory is scheduled to be operational in February 2016. With a bucket elevator being fitted into the silo tower and batching plant hoppers and walkways being installed it is clear to how much progress has been made to date!

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600M² WAREHOUSE FOR ONATRA
The construction team is constructing a 600 m² warehouse for ONATRA on the site of the new Fertilizer plant. The Office National des Transports (ONATRA) is a publicly owned company, based in Kinshasa, which operates railways, ports and river transport in the north and west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This warehouse will be part of the final structure and layout of the completed plant.

600m cover

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CONSTRUCTION ON SCHEDULE
The team on the site at Boma is making incredible progress. The team are making headway in a few departments with gutter down pipes going up; a bucket elevator being fitted into the silo tower; bulk off-loading pit being completed and the weighbridge sump nearing completion.

Construction Cover

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KITCHEN AND DINING AREA FOR FACTORY WORKERS
A separate kitchen and dining area for the factory workers is being constructed and is taking shape speedily. This area will be used as a cafeteria during work hours.

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OFFICES BEING FURNISHED
With the plant scheduled to be operational in February 2016, offices have been completed and have been furnished to start preparing for the production of fertilizer.

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BUNKER WALLS TO BE CASTED
The last of the bunker walls is scheduled to be casted – the main structure nearing completion.

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RICE, MAIZE AND FLOUR DISTRIBUTION
The distribution of Rice, Maize and Flour has commenced. The available products include: 10 kg and 25 kg Long grain rice; 10 kg and 25 kg Natural White Maize Flour; 10 kg and 25 kg Natural Yellow Maize Flour; 50 kg Natural White Maize; and 50 kg Natural Yellow Maize. The long grain Rice is a proud product of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Maize and Flour products are proud products of S.E. Parc Agro du Bukanga-Lonzo and are being distributed among the locals.

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FERTILIZER DELIVERY
TRIOMF fertilizer being delivered to a client in DRC.

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SECOND JIVENTO TRUCK ON THE ROAD
Based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jivento is a DRC based and established company which has aligned itself with AFRICOM COMMODITIES and currently holds transportation and other movable assets.

As a brand which aims to be synonymous with civil engineering and development across the continent, Jivento will ideally be at the core of all projects and in a position to be a key supplier as well as manage massive undertakings which in turn will help alleviate the responsibilities normally assigned to a government of a particular country. Jivento aids the S.E. du Parc Agro Industriel de Bukanga-Lonzo project in logistics. Jivento transports containers from to port in Boma to the various sites in Maluku and Bukanga-Lonzo.

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TRIOMF FERTILIZER BEING USED ON POTATO PLANTATIONS IN BASANGUNGU
While the team on the site of the new state-of-the-art fertilizer plant at Boma is nearing completions, TRIOMF Fertilizer has already been distributed in the surrounding areas. TRIOMF’s fertilizer is being used on potato plantations in the Basangungu district.

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BOMA FERTILIZER PLANT CONSTRUCTION ON TARGET
The TRIOMF RDC Fertilizer plant in Boma, DRC has reached a milestone in their construction activity this week. The team at the Boma site commenced construction in late 2014 and is making incredible progress on this state-of-the-art fertilizer plant. This new plant will be the first-of-its-kind in the Democratic Republic of Congo and will help reduce the countries' and the continent's dependency on imported fertilizers.

As the largely rural country, the Congolese rely on agriculture to make a living and will rely on the fertilizer being supplied by this plant to increase their food productions.

It's not very often that a project of this magnitude comes along and we're proud to have it being built in on the banks of the Congo river. The Boma Fertilizer facility is on target to be completed in 2016.

The construction of a small vehicle entrance and exit, a truck entrance and exit, a bulk material loading bay and a bunker wall was secured in the past week of construction.

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PLANT TAKING SHAPE QUICKLY
The fertilizer plant on the bank of the Congo river, in DRC has reached a milestone with the installation of the first fertilizer bins.

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SILO TOWER SHOOTING UP
It's an exciting time for the team on the site at Boma, as they continue to build a state-of-the-art fertilizer plant on the bank of the Congo River. Willie Immelman and his team is not just about delivering a world-class new fertilizer plant; but also aims to leave a lasting skills legacy for the construction industry. The first of the silo towers are being erected as well as the main offices, plant control room, weigh bridges and the laboratory.

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CONSTRUCTION TEAM SHOWS ASTOUNDING RESULTS
This aerial images of the building site at Boma, in the DRC, shows the astounding results of the construction of the state-of-the-art fertilizer production plant currently underway. The construction team continues to make headway in process of completing the plant towards the end of 2015.

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PLANT COMING TO LIGHT
After months of long, hard work – the Fertilizer Plant in Boma is taking shape. The last truss of the second building has been put in place and the plant is coming to light. With the second building nearing completion and the truck entrance to the loading area of the plant finished, the non-stop hard work of Willie Immelman and his team is obvious.

See more of the construction progress

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KINSHASA FARMER’S DAY
TRIOMF RDC hosted its first 'Farmer's Day' event for the months of May and June. The campaign moves through Kinshasa to Kimpese, Matadi and Boma, reaching individuals in harder to rural areas. Local farmers are introduced to the TRIOMF Fertilizer brand via cooperative visits facilitated and organized by regional Farmer's Union Committees and TRIOMF staff members. Informative sessions aim to provide individuals with an improved knowledge of farming methodologies, benefits of fertilizer usage and the effectiveness of fertilizers for improved crop production and quality. See dates below for the next Farmer's Day:

Kinshasa: 21 May
22 May
26 May
27 May
28 May
Kinshasa to Kimpese: 1-5 June
Kimpese to Matadi to Boma: 6-14 June (subject to change)

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PRESIDENT KABILA VISITS THE SITE
On 30 May 2015 President Kabila and other government officials paid a visited to the site where a new state-of-the-art fertilizer production plant is being built - they witnessed the progress being made on this multi-million US$ project of the Boma DRC initiative. Situated on the banks of the Congo River, the facility will form part of the new harbour being established in the port of Boma. Chief Project Manager, Willie Immelman escorted President Kabila and the delegates on an in depth tour of the site, explaining the operations of the completed fertilizer plant. The President expressed his amazement at the progress of construction and impeccable neatness of the site.

Kabila visit

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FARMERS BUCKETS
As part of TRIOMF's venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which aims to eradicate the high costs involved with importing fertilizer, creating employment and ultimately building the industry as a whole, the concept of a "Farmers Bucket" was introduced. This "Farmers Bucket" is an all-in-one agri kit that will assist the small scale farmer to work a 25m x 25m (0, 16 hectare) patch of land. This kit will include everything needed from preparing the soil to harvesting. It consists of a heavy duty 25 litre industrial plastic bucket with a tamper-proof lid. Every bucket contains a step-by-step user manual, a pre-plant soil preparation product, seed, granular- and foliar fertilizer, as well as weed- and pest control products.

These "Farmers Buckets" will soon be distributed to small scale farmers throughout the DRC. A Roll-out of these "Farmer Buckets" are also being planned for Swaziland as well South-Africa.

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GOVERMENT OFFICIALS VISIT THE SITE
Government officials and BGFI Bank visited the site where a new state-of-the-art fertilizer production plant is being built - they witnessed the progress being made on this multi-million US$ project of the Boma DRC initiative.

Situated on the banks of the Congo River, the facility will form part of the new harbour being established in the port of Boma.

The delegates included The Governor of the Bas-Congo Province : Mr Jacques MBADU NSITU; The President of BGFI Bank : Mr Pierre KINDUELO LUMBU; The Managing Director BGFI : Mr SELEMANI; The Deputy Governor of the Bas-Congo Province : Mr ATOU MATUBUANA; The Mayor of BOMA District : Marie-José NIONGO NSUAMI and various Ministers of the Government Province and members of Provincial Parliament.

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FEBRUARY 2015
The structural framework of the new fertilizer plant has taken further shape in the form of the roofing structure, most notably purlins that have been connected to the trusses, as pictured below.

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BBC NEWS
BBC News 3D English

Click here to download the Article

NON-STOP CONSTRUCTION
There is no stopping the members of the construction team who continue to make headway, no matter the time of day.

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FIRST FERTILIZER SALE
With the construction of the brand-new 14 000m² plant (set for completion in April 2015) steadily in progress, the sales team hasn't been left behind, selling a whopping 525t of Urea fertilizer to date.

The first sale, which caused much excitement, was made in October last year to the 'Compagnie Sucriére' in the Bas-Congo town of Kwilu-Ngongo and since then, the locals have bought the rest of the fertilizer which supplies immediate and powerful applications of nitrogen.

The TRIOMF team is currently getting empty containers in place where they'll be doing further sales to small-scale farmers in Boma where word is rapidly spreading about the new fertilizer giants in town!

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TRIOMF R.D.C. S.A.

NRC: CD/KIN/R.C CM/13-13-01262 | ID NAT: 01-450-N77536Q
Immeuble Elembo, 130 Boulevard du 30 Juin, Gombe Kinshasa
République Démocratique du Congo
Tel: +243 854 633 574 | Fax: +27 86 541 7948
Email: info@triomfrdc.com | Web: triomfrdc.com

FERTILIZER ORDERS

Christof Grobler
Cell: +243 826545748
Email: christof@africom.co

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Christof Grobler
Cell: +243 826545748
Email: christof@africom.co