Year in review: new Cha Uat mill, Topi bag filter and gas engine upgrades, replanting at Wanee Estate, and a new kernel crushing plant in Carmen, Mindanao.
New 60MT/hr Mill at Cha Uat, Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The new mill at Chauat, Nakhon Si Thammarat is currently in the commissioning phase and will be fully operational in March 2026. The mill has an initial capacity of 60 MT FFB per hour, with a design that allows expansion to 90 MT FFB per hour in the future, to accommodate for the increasing supply of fresh fruit bunches from the surrounding area.
Cha Uat Boiler Station
Cha Uat Press Station
Cha Uat Steriliser Station
Topi Dust collecting Bag Filter Unit
As part of our initiative to reduce our smoke emissions from our factories, we have completed our third dust collecting bag filter unit at Topi factory. The bag filter is able to remove suspended dust particles from the smoke emissions. Since commissioning in November 2025, it has proven to be very effective in reduction of smoke emissions, and we have been able to reduce the dust particles from over 200 PPM to below 100 PPM, which is significantly below the newly proposed regulations of < 120 mg/m³. Our local stakeholders are also very supportive of this initiative. We aim to complete similar installations across all our factories by the end of 2026.
Replacement Gas Engine No.3 for Topi
The third of three replacement gas engines at Topi was replaced. After 15 years of service, the 0.952 MW Guascor engine was due for replacement. A new Cummins biogas engine was installed as a replacement. This biogas engine is a major component for generating electricity to sell to the local power grid. It utilizes biogas produced from the palm oil mill effluent treatment system, before the treated wastewater is supplied to the irrigation system within the plantation.
Topi Replacement Gas Engine
Replanting
Replanting of our older palm stands continued as programmed. It is essential to replant the older stands of oil palm and maximise our productivity. Replanting allows for the newer improved planting material to reach our yield potential, and also reduces harvesting costs that are associated with the older taller palms, where the yield is declining. A young age profile is essential to improving productivity and maximizing yield.
In 2025 we continued with our replanting of Wanee Estate. Best Management practices were carried out to ensure cover crop was reestablished to prevent erosion, especially in sloping areas. Empty fruit bunches have been used extensively in our replanting areas to restore organic matter and to mulch the young seedlings to retain moisture and suppress weed growth.
New Kernel Crushing Plant Installation at our Carmen Factory, Mindanao
In November 2025 we commissioned our new Kernel Crushing Plant, at our mill in Carmen, North Cotobatu, Mindanao, with a capacity of 60 MT per day. With increasing supply of fresh fruit, we are now at a stage where we are able process our kernels efficiently, to produce palm kernel oil and palm kernel cake for both the domestic, and export market. This is expected to add significant value to our current operation.
