BAT Fiji invests $4.5 million in upgrading Suva factory

British American Tobacco Fiji has launched their newly upgraded Primary Manufacturing Department - Project Sovereign Upgrade which cost $4.5 million over the last couple of years.

The upgrades consists of machinery upgrades to reduce inefficiencies and unlock the Fiji market’s ability to use local leaf for certain export markets.

These upgrades included work on the Lamina and Stem machinery lines and the relocation of the threshing line from the PMD to Nadi’s Green Leaf Threshing plant.

Due to this improved product quality and consistency, BAT Fiji has been able to make the transition from 96% local leaf to 100%.

British American Tobacco Fiji General Manager, Sam Dormor says this investment ensures their processes are consistent with BAT’s best practices and that goods produced are of the highest quality and with minimal waste.

He also says their production team have been qualified by BAT’s regional counterparts and this gives them an increased ability to compete with other similar markets such as Pakistan, South Korea and Sri Lanka.

The General Manager further says earlier this month BAT Fiji launched their zero waste to landfill initiative that will see them significantly reduce their waste going to landfills, as they will either be recycled or composted reducing their impact on Naboro landfill.

He adds that they also have a solar project earmarked for later this year that will supply 50% total electricity for their Nabua site.