Senate Agric Committee endorses NOTORE fertilizer production - Pledges to pursue law to encourage local production of fertilizer

Senate committee on Agriculture has expressed satisfaction over the level of rehabilitation and general progress made by NOTORE Industries Limited from the abandoned defunct National Fertilizer Company [NAFCON] in Onne near Port Harcourt

As part of its oversight functions, the Committee last Friday conducted a one-day fact finding tour of Notore plants. Overwhelmed by the level of progress and the fact the company had even commenced production of fertilizer products, Chairman of the Committee; Senator Tawar Umbi Wada said his committee has resolved to partner with Notore in its commitment to leading Africa’s Green Revolution

He said the committee has also resolve to push up legislations that would ensure the survival of NOTORE. “We are really overwhelmed and surprised at what we have discovered here. What we heard before coming was that the management was busy stripping the place and sending abroad the remains of NAFCON machinery,” the chairman said

Members of the committee also urged the management of NOTORE to equally invite their counterparts in the House of Representatives to the plant to achieve the required understanding of facts needed to desired legislations or policy reviews.

Members of the committee openly confessed that some unscrupulous members of the fertilizer products importation class had inundated the committee with uncanny reports intended to encourage importation of fertilizer into Nigeria. The committee said however that they are committed to encouraging local production of fertilizer and a booster to the general return of agriculture as Nigeria’s cash cow, so that the economy can drift away from the current 90 per cent reliance on oil revenue. 

“I can believe what we have seen today. It is out of the extra ordinary. We are happy that NOTORE is wholly a Nigerian investment and are committed to leading the African Green Revolution. It is amazing at the colossal waste created by the paste managers of NAFCON,” Senator Wada stated. He pointed out that Nigeria has the best gas chamber in the world and wondered how the country could not manage NAFCON

The committee asked the management of NOTORE not to waste any time approaching the committee if they require assistance in areas like gas pricing. “Count on us to chip in words for you. We as Nigerians need to go back and make agriculture a commercial business not an exercise for or subsistence. We need a policy that will keep NOTORE in business,” Senator Wada said       

Impeccable sources in the company confirmed that NOTORE management sunk a handsome $400 million towards the rehabilitation of the plant, with a proposal for additional $1.5 million in the coming 2 years. The company is the only urea [fertilizer] company in Sub Saharan Africa. It has a 45,000 metric tones, and 500, 000 metric tons bulk blended NPK annual production capacity.

Notore’s head of marketing and business development, Mr Kola Masha said the company is aiming at a production capacity of over 700,000 MT in the 2009 planting season. “We have our key strengths in efficient and cost effective supply chain to reach the farmers in the remote areas. Notore is organizing effective education of farmers with a team of agric service team. They will liaise with farmers and educate them on innovations, system and products identification,” Masha said

Notore Chemical Industries Limited (“Notore”) has commenced commercial production of fertiliser. Ammonia production began in the early hours of today, Wednesday, 7^th January 2009. Notore has also achieved mechanical completion of the rehabilitation of the Urea plant. Commissioning and trial runs of the Urea plant have commenced.

Commencement of production was achieved following an extensive rehabilitation exercise that was carried out by the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor - Proplant Inc. of Houston, USA and a team of Notore technical personnel who have worked very hard to surmount the challenges associated with the rehabilitation of the plant which had been dormant for 10 years. Over $400million was invested in this project.

Notore acquired the assets of the liquidated National Fertiliser Company of Nigeria (NAFCON) in August 2005 after a rigorous bidding process from Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Enterprises. The plant is situated at Onne, Rivers State and has the capacity to produce 1,000 metric tons MT /day of ammonia, 1,500MT/day of Urea and a bulk blend NPK capacity of 2,000MT/day.

An elated Jite Okoloko, Managing Director and CEO, broke the news through a press statement and said “The African Green Revolution has indeed begun, with the commencement of our Train 1. It is a truly historic moment. Nigeria has once again joined the elite league of industrialised nations that produce fertiliser, a key input in the production of much needed crops which will feed its citizens”.

“We thank our partners, bankers, local and foreign investors who have stood by us, understanding and keying into the vision of making Nigeria self-reliant in food production”.

Notore’s vision is to be the No. 1 agro-allied company by market share and profitability in Africa by enhancing the quality of life through providing access to safe agro-allied products.

“Notore, as Champion of the African Green Revolution, is committed to helping the continent attain self-sufficiency in food production”, says Jite Okoloko. He further stated that “We are committed to ensuring that agriculture takes its pride of place as the main stay of the African economy”.