By Emeka Samuel, Uyo
Greenwell Technologies , a Fertilizer blending factory located in Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom state has said it spends N1.4 million monthly on diesel.
Managing Director of the company Mr. Johnny Udo disclosed this yesterday when members of Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, Akwa Ibom state Council, went on facility tour of the factory as part of activities marking the chapel’s press week.
Udo explained that he even promised to pay N500,000.00 monthly to the PHED for them to provide the company with constant power but to no avail adding that he decided to situate the company in Abak because the area is peaceful.
“I spend about N1.4million a month on diesel. If I am lucky, I have light for five minutes or two minutes for whole week. So we depend on diesel. We have 500KVA generator because if we don’t have light we cannot operate this machines. .
“When I first decided to do this business my first concern was commitment. We turnout about 300 metric tonnes a day, sometimes 200 depending on the need and availability of raw materials. Two of our raw materials is imported and the rest are purchased locally.
“Most of the products have been sold out. Last month we shipped 4,000metric tonnes to Nassarawa and some other States. We still have about 59 trucks that will go to Rivers state whenever they are ready to pick.” He said.
The Managing Director, said the company has been making progress following high demands/patronage for the product from many states across the country adding that the company has also started blending fertilizer for coconut farms.
He explained that Federal government subsidizes 50 percent of the cost of the fertilizer as a way of assisting farmers
“The actual manufacturing price is N11,000 per bag but the Federal government in order to get the farmers to use it pay 50percent , then the farmers pay 50percent of the price. In some states they give to farmers free.
“You can buy this N6,000, 00, or N7,000.00 in the market because the raw materials are very expensive. And we don’t sell less than one truck load to the agro dealer; right now we are selling to individuals, but by next year we will not. If someone wants to buy one bag we’ll sell but from next year we are not going to do that.
“The demand is high, and right now we have about 1000metric tonnes remaining, and the federal government has paid for all, but we are also producing for private entity. We are also shipping to Coconut farmers right now, we are blending fertilizers for them.
“When we started most of our customers were from the north, but we have started having customers from Akwa Ibom, Abia , Imo. We are the only fertilizer blender in the South South of the country.” He explained.
In her brief remarks Chairman of the Correspondents’ chapel, Mrs. Idongesit Ashameri emphasized the need for the company to partner media practitioners to promote what it is doing.
