With our operations being in some of the most remote and least accessible parts of Africa, it can be difficult to develop an accurate impression of what Feronia's is really about.
We hope that the news stories below will help develop a better understanding of how, through rebuilding this business, we are committed to improving the living and working environment of our employees, their families and their communities and to delivering on our committment to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection and community inclusion.
This section is updated regularly so please return here often to follow our progress.
Death of Mr Joel Imbangola Lunea
The Company is deeply saddened to learn that one of its employees is being sought by the police in relation to the death of Mr Joël Imbangola Lunea on Sunday 21 July 2019. Police are treating Mr Lunea’s death as murder.
There are different versions of events being reported and we are attempting to gather the facts of what happened. A number of witnesses have informed the Company that the disagreement which lead to the tragic incident was of a personal nature but, with the incident occurring approximately 18 km from Feronia’s plantation, near the employee's home village, whilst he was on four weeks annual leave, establishing facts is proving difficult.
The incident is being investigated by the police, who are also working to apprehend the suspect, and the Company is fully supportive of the police investigation.
Everyone at Feronia is shocked and appalled by these events and we extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to Mr Lunea’s family at this very sad and difficult time.
Family Planning Partnership with Mary Stopes International
PHC Feronia has started a partnership with the global organization Marie Stopes International to support women and girls across our plantations and raise awareness on contraception methods and other family planning options.
MSI has trained two nurses from our Lokutu site who will be working exclusively on this matter, will be based at the Company’s hospital and will also visit local communities to raise awareness and provide contraception for even the most remote of our communities.
Ensuring that women and girls can decide when or whether to have a child is an important aspect of women empowerment and it plays an important role in helping improve living conditions in the areas in which we operate.
Celebrating a new Primary School at Yamaya, Yaligimba
On 20 October 2018, Feronia PHC presented a new primary school to the community of Yamaya, Yaligimba. The construction of the school was funded by Feronia PHC using durable materials and is part of the Company's commitment to local communities as detailed in Social Protocols signed earlier in 2018.
Consisting of six classrooms, one office and sanitary services, the school has been transferred to the local community's ownership and will provide education for children from the local area.
Feronia PHC would like to thank the teaching staff and director of the school for their letter of acknowledgment and sends its best wishes to current and future students, the teachers and the local community.
Feronia PHC signs 'Protocoles d'accord' with local communities - Lokutu
December 2017
At the invitation of the Governor of the Tshopo province, community representatives from the territories of Basoko, Yahuma and Isangi and management from PHC Lokutu recently met in Kisangani.
The aim of the series of meetings was to advance dialogue between the Company and local communities and attempt to establish “protocoles d’accord” to detail the requests and requirements of local communities and formalise how the Company and Communities will work together in this regard.
The discussions lasted several days and culminated in the creation and signing of the protocols under the supervision of the Governor and Vice-Governor of the province who have also committed to oversee their implementation.
Agreement between Feronia PHC and local communities on social projects
December 2017
Feronia PHC welcomed the Provincial Government of Tshopo’s recent initiative to host and mediate a series of meetings in Kisangani.
These meetings aimed to advance dialogue between the Company and local communities from the territories of Isangi, Basoko and Yahuma at Feronia PHC's Lokutu plantation, and establish a “protocol d’accord” to detail the requests and requirements of local communities and formalise how the Company and Communities will work together in this regard.
The meetings took place at the Town Hall in Kisangani over four days (Wednesday 15th – Saturday 18th November) with members of the Provincial Government acting as mediators. An initial meeting between the Company and representatives of the three territories was held on the Wednesday, and there followed meetings between the Company and representatives of each of the three territories.
Over the four days of meetings, the Company and representatives of the communities found common ground and a “protocol d’ accord” was signed with community leaders from each area.
Feronia PHC feels that the Provincial Government’s initiative to host and mediate the meetings was positive; a sentiment shared by the leaders of the Communities involved.
It looks forward to working with the communities in implementing what has been agreed.
The video is a news report by RTNC of the meeting between Feronia PHC and the Yahuma territory community leaders.
First stone laid at new Lokumete Mill
December 2017
The Governor of Tshopo was recently invited by the Company to symbolically lay the foundation stone at the site of its new Lokumete mill.
The new mill is being built on the site of the original Lokumete mill which was closed more tha a decade ago.
Once complete, the mill will create new jobs and provide economic stimulus in the Lokumete area. The Lokumete mill project will also see the rehabilitation of social infrastructure in the area and enable the Company to increase CPO production for the DRC market.
Defensive Driving Training - Yaligimba
December 2017
Organised jointly with the Institut National de Promotion Professionnel, 65 participants have recently completed a two week defensive driving course at Yaligimba. The course covered areas such as good driving practices, anticipation of risks and general road safety. It forms part of the Company’s health and safety programme which aims to achieve a goal of zero traffic related accidents on its plantations.
Construction of a new medical waste incinerator at PHC's Lokutu Hospital
November 2017
To safely dispose of medical waste, the Company has built a new incinerator at its Lokutu Hospital. Medical waste management is an important issue at the Lokutu hospital, which admits around 500 patients each month.
Ambassadors visit water borehole drilling site
November 2017
On their recent visit to the Company's operations, the Belgium and UK ambassadors to the DRC saw, at first hand, many of the postive impacts Feronia is having in the areas in which it operates. One such positive impact is the provision of safe, clean drinking water for those living in and around its operations and the Ambassadors met the Company's borehole drilling team as they drilled another new water borehole.
Since 2015, the Company has drilled 69 boreholes in and around its operations at Boteka, Lokutu and Yaligimba and more boreholes are planned planned for 2018.
Inauguration of new Yaligimba boiler and turbine
November 2017
After several months of construction, a new fiber boiler and steam turbine were inaugerated at Yaligimba in a ceremony attended by the Governor of Mongala, and Belgium's and the United Kingdom's Ambassadors to the DRC.
The new boiler uses the fibre by-product of CPO production as fuel to produce steam for the production process. This steam is then recycled to power a new 1.5 megawatt steam turbine to produce electricity.
This is a great step forward for the Company as using the free, organic fuel will help reduce its cost of production and also means that the Yaligimba mill is now operating entirely on green energy produced by the Company.
Fire Extinguisher Training - Yaligimba
November 2017
Staff at Feronia PHC's Yaligimba mill recently underwent two days of refresher training to on fire safety and fire extinguisher use. Run by PHC Yaligimba Area Safety Manager, David Kambubayi, the training aimed to ensure staff can identify fire safety risks in the mill and correctly use the fire extinguishers in the event of a fire.
Household Waste Collection - Yaligimba
November 2017
As part of its commitment to Environmental best practices, Feronia PHC has started collecting household waste from communities at its Yaligimba plantation.
The waste, which was often previously burnt by households, is now taken to a new landfilsite where it is correctly treated and disposed of.
An open letter from Xavier de Carniere, Chief Executive Officer of Feronia Inc. following recent media coverage.
An open letter from Xavier de Carniere, Chief Executive Officer of Feronia Inc. following recent media coverage.
Kinshasa, DRC. September 13, 2016
“It is impossible for us to make things right if, as an organization, we are dead.
"Whether you agree with what we are trying to achieve in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – rebuilding a business which is one of the few employers and providers of hospitals and social infrastructure in the areas we operate – or not, one thing is certain; if our business dies the livelihoods, hospitals and social infrastructure that rely on our survival will disappear. This is not scaremongering. It is fact. There are dozens of examples of abandoned plantations along the Congo River which once provided jobs, hospitals, social infrastructure and opportunity. Feronia’s plantations could quite easily join them and become another postscript in the DRC’s tumultuous history.
“When we read criticism of Feronia by advocacy non-governmental organisations, as has recently been the case, it hurts us. It hurts us because we truly believe that what we are trying to achieve is hugely positive for the DRC and its people. It hurts us because we are currently a loss making business whose future is yet to be secured. It hurts us because our senior management are working flat out and are totally committed to ensuring the survival of this business in a sustainable way. It hurts us because we are spending a considerable amount of time and money on environmental and social matters because we consider them to be central pillars in making this business the type of business we want it to be. It hurts us because it puts at risk the future of this business and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It hurts us because, more often than not, the criticism is simply not accurate.
“That said, if criticism is warranted and accusations are true we take notice, address the issues raised and look at ways of improving how we operate. We recognise we are not perfect and that outside critique, scrutiny and criticism is important and sometimes warranted. We listen to all criticism and concerns raised and we recognise that advocacy NGOs have an important role to play in highlighting situations in countries such as the DRC which can often go unnoticed. However, it is important to clarify that inaccurate or malicious attacks do real harm to us and other businesses trying to help rebuild post conflict and undeveloped countries.
“Whether the accusations and claims made against us are accurate or not, the outcome for us is always the same. Huge amounts of management time is taken up, questions from our DFI lenders and shareholders are asked and have to be answered and the possibility of this business not surviving in the long term becomes more acute as the ongoing support of our DFI lenders and shareholders is currently vital to our existence. Their raison d’être is to support development in undeveloped nations but even they will walk away if they feel that their reputations are being permanently damaged.
“We have nothing to hide. We firmly believe that Feronia is a positive force in the areas in which we operate through the creation of jobs, health facilities and infrastructure which would not exist if we were to stop doing what we are doing. We are working hard to bring our operations up to globally recognised standards with regards to environmental and social matters and, whilst we have made excellent progress to date, we recognise that we still have much to do. We know that the scrutiny of NGOs is inevitable and necessary. What we welcome though is a dialogue with NGOs, especially advocacy NGOs, so that we can answer their questions and concerns and address the issues that are important.
“We make no secret of our desire to speak with, engage with and work with NGOs. It is something we already do and we recognise that many NGOs have the skills and experience required to rectifying issues and solve problems that affect the people on and around our operations that we do not. We also welcome the opportunity to engage and work with NGOs who have concerns about our operations, such as those that have recently been vocal and critical of us in the media, to ensure we are addressing issues in the right way and to ensure that those who feel they have no voice are heard.
“It has been shown that advocacy NGOs are critical of corporations in the same way that corporations are critical of advocacy NGOs (see image). It is our hope though that by showing a real willingness, openness and ongoing commitment to engage with, communicate with and work with advocacy NGOs, we can create a situation where criticism is valid and useful and can lead to better solutions for the people on the ground that the NGOs represent, Feronia can become a better organisation and, ultimately, the future of this business can be secured for the benefit of tens of thousands of people in the DRC.”
Xavier de Carniere
Chief Executive Officer
Feronia Inc.
Rebuilding Social Infrastructure
As part of its Environmental and Social Action Plan, and with the support of its DFI Stakeholders, Feronia is rebuilding its social infrastructure. Using local materials, the project is helping people develop new skills, is creating jobs and opportunities and is gradually improving people's lives.
The new Yaligimba Palm Oil Mill
In October 2013 Feronia opened a new palm oil mill at Yaligimba. It employs more than 150 people and is an important part of the local community and economy in this remote part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sunday Football at Lokutu
Like the world over, many people in the DRC love football. At Lokutu this is no exception and matches between local sides attract hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of spectators.
Feronia PHC harvester Manu
Manu, a harvester at PHC's Lokutu plantation, talks about his job and working for the Company.
Feronia PHC trainee midwife Sophie
Sophie, a trainee midwife at Feronia PHC's Lokutu hospital talks about her job and how training to be a midwife is improving her life.
Feronia PHC Area Accountant Felicien
Having worked for PHC for 25 years, Lokutu Area Accountant Felicien Poke speaks about his career.
Feronia PHC Area Doctor, Dr. Parfait
Having been born on the Boteka plantion in 1962, Dr. Parfait Kiyoso is now Area Doctor at Feronia PHC's Boteka Hospital.
Boat journey to one of Feronia's plantations
Feronia's operations are very remote and everything currently goes in and out via boat along the Congo River. Even in a quick boat travelling from Kisangani to Lokutu takes over 4.5 hours. By traditional pirogue, it takes much, much longer.
New Collective Agreement signed with six unions which represent over 3,600 Feronia employees
November 2014
A new Collective Agreement was signed by the six unions which represent the over 3,600 employees of Feronia's palm oil business in the Democratic Republic of the Congo following several months of preparation, consultation, discussions and negotiations. The negotiation process focused on achieving common ground on pay, benefits and general terms of employment for both the immediate future and longer term.
The following is the joint statement issued yesterday by Feronia and the six unions which represent the employees of PHC. following the successful conclusion of the negotiations and signing of the new collective agreement:
We are pleased to confirm the completion of formal negotiations to update the Collective Agreement.
These negotiations have been characterized by a strong sense of common purpose. All parties acknowledge the progress the business has made since Feronia acquired PHC in 2009 and the extensive rehabilitation of company operations to date. The willingness of all parties to work together has been a critical factor in progress up to this point and will continue to be an important factor as we strive towards the collective goal of building a sustainable, commercially viable business which secures member and employee livelihoods in the long-term.
As the Company enters a new phase in its development, all parties recognise that improvements to pay, benefits and general terms of employment are needed and it is against this backdrop that a number of revisions to the Collective Agreement, including increases in pay from 1 January 2015, have been agreed.
These revisions represent an ongoing commitment by Feronia to the improvement of pay, benefits and social infrastructure as the operational performance of the Company improves.
All parties are committed to working together to ensure the longevity of this business and restoring it to its former prominence in the fundamental interest of its employees, its communities, its shareholders, and the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Feronia commences union negotiations on Collective Agreement
October 2014
Feronia recently commenced negotiations with unions representing its 3,600+ workforce to update the terms and conditions of its Collective Agreement and increase employee pay.
Nurseries
Feronia’s nurseries are irrigated by hand: while automatic irrigation systems are widely used in oil palm nurseries around the world, Feronia uses manual irrigation for two reasons:
Being less physically demanding than other plantation tasks such as replanting/harvesting, it provides employment opportunities for women
Issues relating to pests, disease, nutrients and water are quickly identified
The Career Path
Feronia is a rapidly growing business which offers employees that relish a challenge an environment in which they can deliver results and have the opportunity for rapid promotion and competative remuneration.
There are two entry routes to a fulfilling career at Feronia:
Direct Entry
Feronia is growing rapidly and we have an expanding requirement for top quality professionals across a number of disciplines including:
- Crop production
- Livestock management
- Agronomy
- Processing and storage of cereals and pulses
- Agricultural engineering
- Human resource management
- Marketing
- Finance and accounting
Applications for any position are welcome from candidates from any country, age or sex. The main requirements are for enthusiasm, determination and the ability to get results through people.
Please send a CV plus a one page letter telling us how you believe you can add value to Feronia to hr@feronia.com
Management Training Programme
Feronia also has in place a management-training programme to develop skills across four areas:
- Agronomy
- Finance
- Technical (engineering)
- Personnel
For further information on Feronia's Management training Programme, please send an email with
"Management Training Programme" in the subject line to hr@feronia.com
World's oldest football club equips DRC teams
Like the world over, people in the DRC are crazy about football and on Feronia’s plantations this is no exception. With matches between local sides attracting hundreds of spectators, watching and playing football is an important past time for many. Whilst many take for granted that teams wear matching football shirt, this is not often the case in the DRC. However, thanks to the generous donation of football kits and equipment by Sheffield FC (www.sheffieldfc.com), the world's first football club, matches on Feronia's plantations are becoming a little more like you would see every day across the world.
New equipment at hospitals
April 2015
Thanks to the Rotary Club of Dinant Haute-Meuse in Belgium and the Rotary NGO "Hospitals Without Borders" for their recent donation of medical equipment to Feronia’s Boteka Hospital in the Ingende Territory of Equateur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The equipment, including stethoscopes, resuscitators, blood pressure monitors and surgical instruments was presented to the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Parfait Kiyoso, by Feronia’s ESG Project Director, Pierre Bois d'Enghien, himself a member of the Rotary Club of Dinant Haute-Meuse in Belgium.
The Boteka hospital has one hundred beds and plays a vitally important role in the provision of medical care to an estimated local population of 8,000 people which includes employees, their families and residents of surrounding villages.
Consisting of several units including surgical, maternity and paediatric wards, a laboratory and a number of dispensaries, Dr Kiyoso and his 33 staff treat 3,000 patients per month. Approximately 175 patients are admitted to the hospital each month and the hospital staff deliver on average 20 babies and undertakes 20 major operations which include caesarean sections and the treatment of illnesses such as appendicitis and peritonitis.
Donations such as that made by the Rotary Club of Dinant Haute-Meuse in Belgium and the Rotary NGO "Hospitals Without Borders", play an important role in helping Feronia improve medical treatment available to local people.
Refurbishment of health facilities
The business Feronia acquired in 2009 had experienced years of underinvestment and disruption due a prolonged period of civil conflict in the DRC.
With four hospitals, four health centres and 16 clinics/dispensaries across Feronia's three plantations, in the areas in which we operate we are the main (and sometimes only) provider of healthcare and medical resources for our employees, their families and local communities.
We recognise the importance of good quality healthcare and all of Feronia’s hospitals and medical facilities are undergoing a programme of renovation and re-equipping as part of Feronia’s Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP).
The ESAP has been developed in conjunction with CDC Group plc, the UK Government's Development Finance Institution, and is supported by a dedicated $3.6 million fund and covers areas including workers' housing, sanitation, schools, medical facilities, health and safety and environmental good practices.
The ESAP is a roadmap to embed community and sustainability at the heart of Feronia’s business and, whilst there is still considerable work required in order to bring Feronia’s 104 year old infrastructure up to modern standards, the process to achieve these objectives is well underway.
Housing rehabilitation
Feronia has engaged pioneering design company MASS to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its social infrastructure to examine what we have, and to plan and cost out the complete rebuild of facilities of a type that our people want and need.
We are well aware that, fundamentally, everything is outdated and requires a complete re-think if we are to provide a safe, healthy and desirable environment in which to live, learn, and work.
We know that this will take time which is why we already have in place an extensive and ongoing maintenance and repair programme for our employees' houses, schools, hospitals, clinics and other facilities and infrastructure.
Water borehole project
The business Feronia acquired from Unilever in 2009 had experienced years of underinvestment and disruption and this was especially the case with the social infrastructure. Whilst there are operational boreholes on the plantations, they are insufficient and increasing access to clean safe water sources is of critical importance.
This is why Feronia is implementing a ground water project incorporating 52 boreholes across its operations in the DRC.
Improving access to safe, clean water is an important part of Feronia's Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) which has been developed as a roadmap to embed community and sustainability at the heart of Feronia's business.
