timber industry

Advertising Feature

A vital part of Fiji’s growing timber industry

Tropik Wood Industries Limited owns and operates Fiji’s largest sawmill and is the country’s only major processor of pine timber. The com pany is owned by Fiji Pine Limited (majority shareholder). Commonwealth

Development corporation and European

Investment bank with assets valued at around SF4S million. The processing com plex which is spanned over an area in excess of four hectares (10 acres) at Drasa,

13 kilometres from Lautoka, includes a weighbridge, log yard, sawmill, chipmill, kilns, treatment plant, moulding shop, power generation plant, workshop and despatch facilities. The plant generates all its electricity requirements from wood residues.

Tropik also owns and operates facilities for storage and export of woodchips at the Port of Lautoka.

Tropik Wood’s objectives are: • Utilisation of the substantial planta

tion pine forests planted by Fiji Pine Limited and Fiji Forest Department as these forests become economically feasi ble to harvest; • Provision of a reliable renewable source of sawn timber to meet the needs of the Fiji domestic market thereby enabling the conservation of Fiji’s indigenous tim ber species; • Creation of employment opportuni ties for local residents and landowners in particular;

• Generation of foreign exchange earnings from the export of sawn timber and woodchips; • Generation of a worthwhile return to the investors in the project.

Tropik logging operations which pro vide the raw resource for the sawmill, har vest more logs than the sum of the rest of Fiji’s timber industry. The majority of the total log supply of some 390,000 tonnes per annum is of Pinus caribaea with a small proportion of Pinus elliottii. The trees are grown on land leased by Fiji Pine Limited or on private woodlots.

In a technically demanding and highly competitive industry, the Tropik facilities consist of a substantial element of modem technology, machinery and equipment.

The company employs quality people in varying jobs with differing experience and background, all of whom are essential to the successful operation of the company.

Ongoing development of employees is ensured with the attendance of FNTC, FIT and other educational courses.

Tropik Wood Industries has always

encouraged participation of local landown ers in all its activities. Many employment opportunities have been created from director and staff levels to sawmill hands and chainsaw operators.

Tropik’s logging operations harvest more logs than the sum of Fiji’s timber industry.

The company employs 380 people directly and in the vicinity of an additional 400 (approximate) on contract basis. Work performed on contract includes logging, cartage, cleaning, catering shipping and roadworks.

To assist local landowners become established in business, Tropik has provid ed comprehensive training and has

financed the supply of equipment on a lease basis to landowner logging contrac tors. With advice and assistance from Tropik and Fiji Pine Limited staff, there are positive signs these small companies will develop into profitable and efficient enterprises.

Tropik Wood has established an excel lent reputation as a supplier of high quali ty woodchips to Japan.

A wide range of high quality sawn tim ber has been successfully marketed in Fiji and elsewhere in the Pacific, particularly in Australia. The grades manufactured include house framing, material treated for outdoor use, boards, profiles and furniture clears.

Posts and poleq are also produced, treated to various levels and marketed throughout Fiji and the Pacific.

Tropik, for the foreseeable future has introduced concepts enabling the company to grow. Sales emphasis will be on contin ually finding new markets to sell products, increasing the volume of domestic sales and capitalising on the quality image established in the export market. ■