Foskor

ABOUT US

Welcome to Foskor (Pty) Ltd.

Foskor is a proudly South African producer of phosphates and phosphoric acid with international exposure. Foskor unlocks shareholder value through the profitable, responsible and sustainable beneficiation of phosphate rock into either phosphoric acid or phosphate-based granular fertilisers sold globally.

Foskor is the only vertically integrated phosphate producer in South Africa. From phosphate-bearing ores, the operations in the Mining Division process phosphate rock concentrate, which is crucial for stimulating and raising crop yields. The Acid Division Plant manufactures sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and phosphate-based granular fertilisers (MAP and DAP) by using phosphate rock as a raw material.

About 84% of Mining Division's phosphate rock concentrate is railed to Acid Division and the rest is sold externally. The Acid Division exports phosphoric acid to India, Japan, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Mexico and Dubai. Phosphoric acid has agricultural, industrial, medical and retail applications. Products made from phosphoric acid include catalysts, rust proofing materials, chemical reagents, latex, dental cements, tooth whiteners, toothpaste, disinfectants, food supplements, carbonated beverages, waxes, polishes and animal feeds, among others.

The Acid Division P?lant produces sulphuric acid (H2SO4), phosphoric acid (P2O5) and granular fertiliser (MAP/DAP). H2SO4 is primarily an input in the production of P2O5. The granular fertiliser plant operates independently from the acid plants and may be shut down at times when demand is low.

At a? Glance

Foskor was founded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in 1951 to produce phosphates for South Africa?’s agricultural sector, and is the only vertically integrated producer of phosphate ore, phosphoric acid and granular fertiliser in South Africa.

The Group’s core activities are the mining of phosphate rock and the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate-based fertilisers. Foskor mines and beneficiates phosphate rock at Phalaborwa in South Africa’s Limpopo Province, from there it is carried by rail to the production facility in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.

Foskor is the leading South African supplier of granular fertilisers, the core ingredient in nitrogen, phosphate and potassium fertiliser products known as NPKs. It is also a commercial producer of phosphoric and sulphuric acids and magnetite (a by-product of the phosphate beneficiation process), which are sold both locally and abroad.

Vision

To be a globally recognised and efficient beneficiator of phosphates in a responsible manner for the benefit of all our stakeholders.

Mission

We will create value and profit by converting opportunities with determination, responsibility and sustainability

Whistle-blowing

Foskor is committed to the highest standards of openness and accountability. An important aspect of accountability and transparency is a mechanism to enable staff to report concerns in a responsible and effective manner. Where an individual discovers information which they believe shows serious malpractice or wrongdoing within the organisation, then this information should be disclosed internally without fear of reprisal.

Foskor recognises that employees, suppliers, business partners, local communities and other stakeholders have a strong preference to be associated with organisations that value and practice ethical conduct. As a means of reinforcing Foskor values, the whistle-blowing policy serves to build employee, supplier and business partner loyalty through the identifying and eliminating unethical practices. The whistle-blowing facility provides a confidential means of conveying information and does not replace existing lines of communication.

SERVICES

Safety, Security and Health

The Mining Division in Phalaborwa was the first South African operation to receive certification by the South African National Standards (SANS) Bureau for its progressive HIV/AIDS programme, in 2008. SANS 16001, derived from the ISO, is the national best practice benchmark for workplace HIV/AIDS programmes. The Acid Division in Richards Bay attained its certification for the first time in November 2008 and has since successfully retained it.

Environment

Foskor gives feedback on its environmental performance at a quarterly Environmental Forum with stakeholders from the industry, local and national government bodies, residents and other interested and affected parties.

Education and Skills Development

Foskor accommodates three schools on its premises at no cost. These are the Kingfisher Private School and Moshate Hotel School (Phalaborwa); and the Ntambanana Crèche (Richards Bay). Foskor is reconstructing the Ntambanana Community Centre in Richards Bay as a lodge for widows, orphans and other vulnerable persons. This community centre will be equipped with training facilities for business start-ups and will offer assistance to entrepreneurs.

Foskor is encouraging early childhood development training at a pre-school in Phalaborwa by partnering with the national Department of Basic Education in granting teaching aids and development programmes to educators in the region. Foskor also adopted the former Stanbury Primary School and renamed it Foskor Primary School in November 2009.

Foskor sponsors the University of Zululand’s Science Centre to ensure that Zululand’s communities have access to world-class science and technology apparatus. In collaboration with the Zululand Sustainable Development Forum, Foskor sponsors a Winter School for Grade 12 learners. The company also makes a grader available to local schools over weekends so that they can level sports fields or playgrounds, and repair pathways for pedestrians.

Foskor embraces the Dinaledi Maths and Science project, having adopted four schools: two in Limpopo Province and two in KwaZulu-Natal. The Dinaledi project enhances maths and science tutoring in secondary schools in preparation for tertiary studies. Dinaledi schools are earmarked to become centres of excellence and training for both educators and learners hoping to pursue careers in the maths and science fields.

Foskor funds two media centres. The Richards Bay Media Centre was founded in partnership with the Zululand Chamber of Business Foundation and the Department of Education. This centre provides administrative support services such as faxing, photocopying, printing, risography (high-speed digital printing), document binding and laminating to 46 schools. Foskor gives both educators and learners access to data and information by stocking the library with relevant and up-to-date textbooks. At the Phalaborwa Media Centre in Namakgale, Foskor rents equipment and pays for the upkeep of the facility that serves as a resource centre for 75 schools.

Economic Empowerment

The Department of Mineral Resources awarded Foskor three new mining licence's in September 2009 and approved the company's economic impact assessments and environmental management plans for the Pyroxenite Expansion Project. Foskor has been issued with all conversions of its old order mining rights into new order rights in terms of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (No. 28 of 2002). The new mine, the South Pyroxenite pit, has been operational since September 2009. We have pending changes to be made to the existing rights to include the additional minerals that we have applied for.

Local Economic Development

Local Economic Development (LED) is a government-driven economic growth initiative that encourages locals to pool resources with municipalities and alleviate poverty. LED was designed to seek growth and employment creation opportunities. By definition, a successful LED programme is one that is aligned to national policy, strategy and guidelines. It provides direct and hands-on support to provincial and local government structures and outlines the management of the LED Fund used to offer technical support to nodal economic development planners. LED is also a useful tool for coordinating and monitoring donor programmes and for building capacity processes and infrastructure in the local communities.?

An Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is a process whereby municipalities prepare five-year strategic plans, reviewed annually, in consultation with communities and other stakeholders. These plans strive to promote integration by balancing social, economic and ecological pillars of sustainability without compromising the government's institutional capacity.

Empowering communities

The Corporate Social Investment teams in both divisions continue to be part of different initiatives in the host communities where we can make a positive impact. Our programmes are aimed at the improvement of the quality of the recipients through promotion of education, rural development, health and poverty alleviation as part of social development. The Community Trusts in Mining and Acid divisions continue to implement the identified community projects with the dividends as and when they are available.