11-03-2014
Dear Stakeholders,
Public Notification on upcoming RSPO Certification Assessment of Benso Oil Palm Plantation
Limited, Takoradi, Ghana (Subsidiary of Wilmar International Ltd.)
Benso Oil Palm Plantation Limited (a subsidiary of Wilmar International Ltd.) has commissioned TUV
Rheinland Malaysia for the assessment and certification of their holdings at Adum Banso near Takoradi
in the Western Region of Ghana against the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil Principles and Criteria
– Ghana National Interpretation. The assessment shall be carried out by a qualified team of auditors
to assess the legal, environmental, economic, health & safety and social aspects as covered by the
RSPO P&C.
Wilmar International Limited is Asia’s leading agribusiness group. Its business activities include oil
palm cultivation, edible oils refining, oilseeds crushing, consumer pack edible oils processing and
merchandising, specialty fats, oleochemicals and biodiesel manufacturing, and grains processing and
merchandising. With a business that spans over 20 countries and backed by a staff force of over
90,000 people, Wilmar International is dedicated to conducting its business in a sustainable manner.
This includes engagement through a collaborative process, listening carefully to key stakeholders and
addressing their concerns in its business strategies and actions.
Wilmar has been a member of RSPO since September 2005 and is committed to full compliance with
the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Principles and Criteria (RSPO P&C) and full certification in all
aspects of its operations where it possesses a majority share (> 51%).
In line with the RSPO certification system requirement, a time-bound plan to certify all the estates and
mills located in Malaysia and Indonesia where Wilmar has more than 51% stake by the year ending
2016 had been established. Wilmar only has one subsidiary plantation company located in Ghana, i.e.
Benso Oil Palm Plantation Limited.
Wilmar International announces for the information of the public that Benso Oil Palm Plantation
(BOPP) Limited is going to be assessed against the global RSPO standards framework. The company is
located at Adum Banso near Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana and consists of one mill with a
capacity of 20mt/hour, one nucleus estate as the main supply base of the mill covering 4,678ha, and
one scheme smallholder covering 1,650ha with 438 participants who are from the communities in the
immediate surroundings of the BOPP nucleus.
Scope of assessment:
The RSPO certification assessment of BOPP Limited is scheduled to commence from the week of 1 to 4
April 2014. The assessment shall be carried out for 1 (one) Palm Oil Mills, 1 (one) company-owned
estate and 1 (one) smallholder scheme. The details of the palm oil mill, estate and smallholder
scheme to be assessed are as follows:
Palm Oil Mills to be included in the main assessment:
Name of Mill
Location
Benso Oil Palm
Plantation
Palm Oil Mill
Adum Banso
Estate, P.O. BOX 470,
Takoradi, Ghana
GPS location
Latitude
Longitude
001˚54.821
05˚06.643
Forecast Annual
Output
CPO (Ton)
PK (Ton)
18,000
Mill
Capacity
(Ton/hour)
4,700
20
Company Estate to be included in the main assessment
Name of estate
Benso Oil Palm
Plantation
Estate (Nucleus)
Location of
estate
GPS locations
Latitude
Longitude
Adum Banso
Estate, P.O. BOX 470, 001˚54.821 05˚ 06.643
Takoradi, Ghana
Area Summary (ha)
Total
Mature
4,738
2,969
Immature Replanting
1,153
616
Smallholder Scheme to be included in the main assessment
Location of
estate
Name of estate
Benso Oil Palm
Plantation
Smallholder
GPS locations
Latitude
Area Summary (ha)
Longitude
Total
Mature
Adum Banso
Estate, P.O. BOX 470, 001˚54.821 05˚ 06.643
Takoradi, Ghana
1,650
1,650
Immature Replanting
0
0
Assessment Team
TUV Rheinland Malaysia is member of the TÜV Rheinland Group, a global leader in independent
testing and assessment services. Established in 1872. TÜV Rheinland Group has over 130 years of
experience in providing various types of certifications as well as technical services for over 490
locations in 61 countries worldwide.
The assessment team assigned for the certification assessment of Benso Oil Palm Plantation Ltd. is as
follows:
Lead auditor:
Auditors:
Local expert:
Dian S. Soeminta (Environment, Safety, GAP, HCVs, Social, Legal, etc…)
Fadli (Workers, Social, Local Communities and External Stakeholders), Carol Ng
(Environmental, Best practices, OSH and Legal), Sunil (Environmental, OSH and Legal)
Charles Mate-Cole (Agriculture Manager for Norpalm Ghana Limited)
Invitation to all stakeholders:
As a part of the certification assessment procedure we invite stakeholders to offer comments and
feedback (if any) on Benso Oil Palm Limited in relation to the relevant RSPO Principles and Criteria as
per the Ghana National Interpretation (RSPO GNI) on any of the following issues:




Environmental protection
Biodiversity conservation
Opportunities for employment, earning
fair wages, overtime and piece-rated work
Company
approach
to
community
development





Provision
of
housing,
sanitation,
amenities and educational support
Community development
Land acquisition process
Free, prior and informed consent
Other matters pertaining to RSPO
Your comments or observations can be communicated to us through either a meeting with assessment
team member during the fieldwork or submitting written comments by email, fax or regular mail to
contact details below. Comments submitted within 30 days from the date of this notification shall be
considered during the certification assessment. However, your input will be welcome at any stage of
the assessment process. Unless you request otherwise, these comments will be kept confidential and
made available to only TUV Rheinland Malaysia and the RSPO Board.
Contact details:
TUV Rheinland Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
No.26-32, Jalan Perindustrian USJ 1/6,
Taman Perindustrian USJ 1,
47600 Subang Jaya,
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Contact person: Ms. Carol Ng
(Assistant Manager –
Environmental Technology Department)
Tel: +603-8024 2400/ +6019-3389864
Fax: +603-8024 1505
Email: carol.ng@tuv.com
Auditee :
Benso Oil Palm Plantation Ltd.
Adum Banso Estate – Takoradi,
P.O. Box 470,Takoradi, Ghana
Contact person: Mr Samuel Avaala
(Estate Manager)
Tel : +233 242109409
Mobile: +233 244 316 861
Email: ×
Samuel.avaala@gh.wilmar-intl.com
We thank you for your comments and feedback.
Yours sincerely,
Nelly Yong
Managing Director
TUV Rheinland Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.