December 2021
LADUMA
Message from the MD
customers and our suppliers and by doing this achieve great things. We have a new plant, we have abundant raw material, we have market demand and we have ourselves, now is the time to deliver. To everyone that is part of the NCP family, please enjoy the festive season. Take time to recharge your batteries, take some time to relax and prepare for next year. Have great time, stay safe, be responsible and get ready for 2022.
Peter Starling Managing Director As 2021 comes to an end we are now well into the process of stabilizing and optimising the new plant. This is an ongoing learning process for all involved and a combination of technology and art, with the fine tuning of the distillery requiring the art.
Belgium Embassy visit
The optimisation of operations is a continual process and requires ongoing adaptability. Change is not a single finite event, it is a series of continual adjustments that we need to make to adapt to our changing and unpredictable environment. The new maize plant has bought its own challenges and stress, but we are adapting and will continue to do so. Much to all our frustration Covid remains present and doing what viruses do, mutating constantly. The Omicron variant is an example of this. We appreciate the commitment and adjustment shown by all staff to the precautions and prevention measures we have put in place. 80% of you are already vaccinated with the majority of the balance still intending to do so. Our goal is for all staff to voluntarily vaccinate to assist us and the rest of the country return to a more normal life. I am looking forward to 2022, the construction and commissioning of the maize plant are behind us and the focus will be the continual improvement of operational performance. Everything we do will support and promote the key drivers of volume, quality, efficiency and competent, committed people. It is worth considering NCP's purpose, “inspiring the realisation of potential through relationships to achieve extraordinary outcomes”, this applies to how we can all help each other realize our full potential , how together we can raise our performance, how we support each other, our
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In November AlcoNCP managing director Peter Starling had the opportunity to proudly showcase the company's new energy-friendly ethanol plant in Durban to a delegation led by the ambassador of Belgium, Didier Vanderhasselt. His Excellency was accompanied by the general manager of the Belgian Chamber of Commerce for Southern Africa, Claudine Vandenabeele, and the head of the Wallonia Export and Investment Agency (AWEX), Jean-Pierre Muller. The plant is the first large-scale maize ethanol plant in Africa. According to Starling, the upgrade was a necessary progression to invest in the latest production technology, to support customer growth, and the NCP100 Project which is a key milestone in the group's vision. The completion of the project despite the outbreak of a global health pandemic was described as a “real technical and timing performance”. Muller said they are proud that a subsidiary of the Belgian group Alco is number one in Africa in their sector of activity.
New AlcoNCP plant launch After ground was first broken in August 2019, AlcoNCP proudly completed the first large-scale maize ethanol plant in Africa earlier this year. With the whole team pulling in the same direction, the project was successfully accomplished ahead of schedule. This was despite the fact they had to deal with the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a massive but necessary undertaking as AlcoNCP had to reinvent itself to make sure of its relevance in the future. At the core was the change of raw material from molasses to maize to ensure a more environmentally, sustainable, and energy-efficient production plant. The upgrade combined the latest technology, innovation, and engineering, making AlcoNCP the largest fermentation distillery on the African continent. In the process, it retained its reputation as one of the world's finest quality neutral alcohol producers. AlcoNCP's plant and processes have been forever transformed with 85 million litres capacity of high-quality neutral alcohol for the food, beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as well as a protein-rich animal feed, DDGS.
The future indeed looks bright!
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AlcoNCP's legendary Year-End Functions - 2021 Edition It is a well-known fact that AlcoNCP likes to let the hair down and have some fun to celebrate the end of the year. With a global health pandemic, it has been difficult to get together as colleagues and embrace the lighter side of life. Even more so as the company's functions are notoriously legendary - from Idolsinspired themes, to recycled fashion shows, cook-offs and soccer competitions. After no year-end function took place in 2020, managing director Peter Starling gave the green light for festivities to resume this year. To stay safe and healthy, it was split up over a couple of days in November with different events.
And what a treat it was with countless highlights draped in black, gold, and white! It included a massive nomadic stretch tent in the administration car park that had to get an engineering certificate because of its sheer size. Anticipated wind gusts of 95 km/h nearly derailed proceedings as it had to be taken down at record speed. Thanks to supportive suppliers the tent was re-assembled and the party was back on. Fun was had by the whole AlcoNCP family, including the on-site contractors who were invited to join in the festivities. Music and dancing were at the order of the day while the food catered to all tastes and preferences, with delectable eggfree vanilla and chocolate ice cream rounding off the celebrations. As a token of gratitude, each staff member was given a resin puck with a single maize kernel to commemorate the new maize plant and a copper still in a bottle. It may have been under different circumstances, but the 2021 AlcoNCP year-end function most certainly deserves the reputation as “one for the books”!
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Covid-19: Vaccination Drive
100% Vaccinated
AlcoNCP launched its Covid-19 Vaccination Drive at the beginning of August, concluding the programme towards the end of November. Nikita Ajodha, the SHEQ In-Service Trainee at the helm of the Vaccination Drive, labeled it a great success as colleagues motivated each other to get their jabs. “It helped people open their eyes to the truth that the vaccine may just be the answer to building our immunity and help us fight Covid. I think it was a huge blessing by the company to take on this responsibility to encourage employees to get their Covid vaccination.”
Both Rashina and her baby are
100% Vaccinated
Nikita has a specific message for the festive season in regards to staying safe and healthy. “Don't let your guard down. That's the one drawback because we tend to be a little bit more relaxed when we are with our family. It's the time of year when we want to just sit back and relax, enjoy our time off, and not have to be restricted by masks or social distancing. “But unfortunately these are the things we have to maintain even during this time. We should maintain our mask-wearing, sanitising, and social distancing as well as encouraging vaccination between our family members. This would be one of the best gifts that we could give to ourselves and to our loved ones this festive season.”
Festive Season Safety Messages Save lives with these safety habits this festive season: Ÿ When you meet with friends and family do so in well-ventilated spaces or preferably outdoors. Ÿ Avoid crowded seating at the table by setting up extra spaces to spread people out. Ÿ Wear your mask correctly (over your nose and mouth) and keep it on in public spaces, crowded spaces, and when you are interacting with people. Ÿ Sanitise and wash your hands regularly. Ÿ Avoid touching your face.
100% Vaccinated employees each received a laptop backpack filled with an umbrella and a first-aid box
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100% Vaccinated
Sustainability Compass AlcoNCP’s Values ‘Remixed’ AlcoNCP is built on 150 years of history, not only about its products, but also about its people. It is this strategy that has been adapted into the Sustainability Compass to take the company into the future for generations to come - who we are, what we are about, and why we exist. Our Purpose is to inspire the realisation of potential through relationships to achieve extraordinary outcomes. The Sustainability Compass is centred around our Values: Passion: We take extreme pride and have belief in what we do. Committed to making a difference. Collaboration: We combine our individual talents and personalities to stimulate, excite and bring out the best in each other, creating partnerships to achieve sustainable solutions. Excellence: We set uncompromising global standards in leadership, products and service, challenging ourselves to constantly improve our performance. Simplicity: We seek elegant solutions to complex issues.
AlcoNCP employees share their sentiments about the Sustainability Compass. Smangele Ndlovu - Process operator I see excellence in collaboration. If I give attention to the details in everything that I do, excellence will come. We need to work together as a team to achieve wonderful things in our company. Lavania Govender - Process Technician For me, sustainability forms part of a green growth model. It means doing more and better with less. I believe it's our responsibility to ensure that we develop innovative solutions to use resources more efficiently and to adapt to clean and environmentally sound technologies. Noorie Bobat - Credit Controller I think AlcoNCP have always used our core values to drive towards excellence. Collaboration with staff and competent committed people have made this possible. It's always been about excellence, passion, collaboration, and simplicity. That's who we are. That is NCP. Ntomby Tukwayo - Office Cleaner One has to understand the impact you make, embrace the adventure, and don't be afraid to take risks. Making the mental commitment to focus on solutions, not problems, will provide a positive vision with clear goals. This vision is much more than just a statement, it's the guiding light for the whole organisation.
Claude Premjith - Process Operator As a competent, committed employee of AlcoNCP, I strive daily to conduct my duties with excellence and great passion. I ensure that I maintain good relationships within my team in order to achieve the desired outcomes efficiently while ensuring quality at the same time. This in turn builds sustainability and fosters company longevity. Mandisa Shabalala - Process Operator As an ops controller, I'm more than willing to push efficient production daily. This means maximum capacity whereby our resources are to be utilised in a balanced way to achieve a cost-efficient product. Quality is part of the culture at AlcoNCP and we therefore work closely with the different departments. I appreciate the close working relationship I have with my production colleagues, as good energy and drive is by far the best tool for a well sustainable environment. Lorraine Haripersadh - Senior Excise Clerk Looking at the compass we have at AlcoNCP, it's easy to see we all add to the direction this compass takes us in, as we all bring different characteristics and different knowledge to the workforce. We see much of the ripple effect that can happen if we, the competent committed people, remain efficient in what we do, ensuring AlcoNCP reaches beyond our expectations. So with keeping our compass in mind, from here on out it's one way, and that's forward onto bigger and better things at AlcoNCP.
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Sustainability Compass AlcoNCP’s Values ‘Remixed’ Logan Govender - Utilities Controller For the Sustainability Compass to be successful, all of us here at AlcoNCP have to be on the same page. With the knowledge and experience I've gained at AlcoNCP, I can certainly pass this on to current and future employees. In my experience, I find that once I maintain a position and appreciative attitude, I find myself wanting to do more than what was asked of me. If I can show the next generation this, I'm sure AlcoNCP will be a happier place. Sanele Mazibuko - Instruments Superintendent As we imprint the remixed company values of excellence, passion, collaboration, and simplicity to each other, we create a standard of greatness. This will also be implemented by generations to follow as life takes its natural order, they too will grow this company to new heights with our four values as a backbone. Sherlene Moodley - Quality Technician It is a combination of individual happiness, understanding your role in the organisation, and balanced teamwork that is important. You have to be happy to do your job and if you are, you give 110 percent. You also have to understand not just your duties, but how your duties impact others and the organisation as a whole. It is also important to understand that if everyone puts in an equal amount of effort, everyone will work harder and go the extra mile.
Congratulations and thank you for your service!
Long Service Awards Nomfundo Ndwalane 10 years
Nomsa Mabaso 15 years
Congratulations to our long-long Service Awards recipients. They are from left to right Mark Norton-Amor - 35 years, Ronnie Anamd - 40 years, Peter Starling - 35 years, Gary Bregovits - 30 years.
Noorie Bobat 15 years
Simangele Ngubane 10 years
“To inspire the realisation of potential through relationships to achieve extraordinary outcomes.” Nowhere else is AlcoNCP's purpose more evident than in the long service of our employees that get acknowledged each year. We are extremely proud to acknowledge the staggering 200 years' combined service of the 9 recipients of the 2021 Long Service Awards for 10, 15, 20, 25-, 30-, 35- and 40-years' service. Stretching back as far as 1981, these individuals have been committed to making a difference. With their individual talents and personalities, they have contributed immensely to the greater good of the company by bringing out the best in each other and all their colleagues.
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Lucky Ntuli 10 years