FGVH's Quebec plant to buy 1mil MT of local soybean, canola

QUEBEC: Twin Rivers Technologies-ETGO (TRT-ETGO), an oilseeds crushing and refining plant owned and operated by FELDA Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH), is set to buy almost a million metric tonnes (MT) of locally grown soybean and canola from Quebec and Western Canada.

FGVH Chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad said the plant, with a crushing capacity of 3,000 MT and refining capacity 1,200 MT per day, is set to purchase 450,000 MT of soybean from Quebec and Ontario and half a million MT of canola seed from Quebec and Western Canada. 

"TRT-ETGO is also one of the largest grain processing plants in Eastern Canada and the only major crushing and refining facility of its kind in the province of Quebec. 

"The plant manufactures vegetable oil to cater to the food and industrial markets as well as for the livestock industry in North America and the European market," he told Bernama after the plant's launch at Becancour Industrial Park Society, about 177 km from Montreal.

The Waterfront Industrial Park, on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River at its confluence with the Becancour River opposite Trois-Rivieres, offers access to a market of over 100 million consumers within a radius of 1,000 km.

Guests at the launch included Malaysian High Commissioner Datuk Hayati Ismail, Quebec Deputy

 Government House Leader Gerry Sklavounos, Becancour Mayor Jean-Guy Dubois, Becancour Industrial Park Society President Maurice Richard and FGVH Group President and Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Emir Mavani Abdullah.

Isa, who signed a launching plaque, said: "With TRT-ETGO being part of Quebec's economic structure, local livestock farmers will be able to purchase animal feeds locally, without having to import feeds which will just incur freight costs," he said.

TRT-ETGO also processes refined, bleached and deodorised soy and canola oil for edible oil repackers and food processors, as well as crude degummed oil for bio-diesel and feed production. 

"We plan to use our own brand name of Adella, and most probably will be launching by the end of the year," he said.

Earlier in his speech, Isa said with operations in China, Indonesia, Australia, Europe and North America, Felda is banking on tried and true methods of business ventures and forming relationships that will benefit all parties.

In 2007, FGVH acquired Twin Rivers Technologies (TRT), thus becoming the sole investor in the TRT-ETGO project. TRT is an American business which specialises in the production of fatty acids, biodiesel, omega-3 and other oleo-chemicals.

Meanwhile, Mohd Emir Mavani said FGVH's investment in Canada brings the company closer to key market segments and customers. 

"We are heartened by the progress made by TRT-ETGO. Its strategic alliance with local grain suppliers has proven to be successful in ensuring that we are able to cater to varied market demands," he said.

Last year, FGVH achieved savings of C$5mil through cost optimisation, and has allocated C$13mil for financial year 2014 for the construction of an additional 14,000 MT meal storage and load-out facility aimed at reducing bottlenecks and meeting environmental requirements, he said, adding the operations are expected to turn positive within two years.

TRT-ETGO's soybean and canola crushing and refining facilities have Safety Quality Food (SQF) and International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), and comply with Quebec's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks requirements as well as local, provincial and federal environmental protection regulations. - Bernama