(NOMINATION FOR 2016 AUREA AWARD): Agrogrnja - Silo-Port Beocin

Backi Petrovac-based Agrogrnja started in January 2015 in Beocin construction of silo with a river port with the capacity of 30.000 cubic (app. 24.000 t), with complete equipment which includes the reception, storage, handling and drying of grain crops.

Silo-port was built on a lot of 2 hectares, which Agrogrnja bought near business park of Lafarge BFC, where after completion of the first stage, i.e. putting silo and the port into operations, is planning to build 70,000 cubic meters of storage space more after which this will be the biggest silo port on the Rhine-Mein-the Danube.

River transport is not a new thing but it has been, however, among the cheapest and most environmentally friendly transport lines, in recent years, the most neglected. South stream of the Danube is considered to be the greatest traffic route of Europe and the Balkans, but there are few silo-ports here and utilization of this kind of transport of grains and oilseeds is at a minimum level. Therefore, the construction of the silo-porta will be of great importance for goods transport.

At the same time, the construction of a modern silo-port which has the latest technology of storage of grains and oilseeds shortens and improves storage processes a lot, reduces energy costs and contributes to revival of agricultural production on the territory of Backa and Srem and beyond.

Agrogrnja new silo -port will enable direct export of mercantile goods to foreign markets, so another port or reloading places in Serbia will not have to be used. Utility reloading in ships, as well as providing services of storage of goods in silo- port will also significantly contribute to revenues which Agrogrnja will generate in the future.

Investment in the silo - port in Beocin totals EUR 5 m.

INNOVATION

According to statistics, for the past decades, in the South stream of the Danube not a single silo-port has been built so the importance of investments Agrogrnja is even greater.

Silo- port in Beocin will store grain crops: corn, wheat, soybeans, barley, rapeseed, sunflower, which will be exported via ships to Constanta port and then by cruise ships.

Construction of silo- port meant also the implementation and modern equipment which comprises reception, storage and drying of grain products. This silo-port which uses the latest technology of storage of grains and oilseeds shortens and improves the processes of storage, and increases efficiency and loading capacity a lot. For example, a barge of 1,000 tons can be loaded by this silo-port, for an average of about 2 hours, while other silo- ports need days for the same process.

Silo will have a dryer for agricultural products which will be gas-driven, which will significantly reduce energy costs. Development of new technologies has contributed to the fact that today's silo are modern facilities with automated processes, storage, drying , transport and reloading , and human labor is reduced to a minimum.

Further capacity expansion or construction of an additional 70,000 cubic meters of storage space in stage II will be, when it comes to storage scope, one of the largest in the South stream of the Danube, and a silo- port in Beocin will be the largest one at the river flow the Rhine - Main -Danube from Rotterdam to Constance with the exception of the two cities.

SOCIAL UTILITY

South stream of the Danube is considered to be the greatest traffic route of Europe and the Balkans, but on the other hand it has few silo-ports and the utilization of this form of grain transport is minimal. In addition, this type of transport is one of the cheapest ways to deliver goods from manufacturer to customer because ships with large capacity per unit of transports large quantities of goods. The use of the Danube river for the transport of goods to the Black Sea cuts, time and costs significantly, but nevertheless this form of transport in our country in recent years, has been very neglected.

Construction of silo-port of Agrogrnja in Beocin will thus also contribute to increasing efficiency of this mode of transport which is at the same time the most environmentally friendly, so the investment is unique protection of the environment. In addition to the fact it is water, mainly environmentally friendly transport means, this process is complex and does not refer only to silo port in Beocin but follows entire agricultural production, from planting to harvest.

The basic obligation of Agrogrnja is that as modern and contemporary organization helps people in its environment and to be responsible for development of municipalities where it operates. Primarily, agricultural production and farmers get serious and stable company where they can store, keep and sell their products. In addition, the company's team of experts in the field regularly visits producers and, with expert advice on cultural practices and proper use of protective equipment and fertilizers, affects reducing the accumulation of harmful substances in soil and products, and modern and contemporary technology of unloading, storage, drying and transport of agricultural products reduces CO2 emissions.

With the construction of silo- ports in Beocin, farmers got a modern facility for storage and keeping of agricultural products which will be the engine for the revival of agricultural production in the territory of Beocin, Srem and beyond. It will be equally beneficial for small farmers or large companies and at the same time it will encourage export of grain crops.

Although with implementation of modern technology that includes automation of storage, drying, transport and reloading processes, human labor is reduced to a minimum, with the construction of a silo- 5 new employees will be hired.

FINANCIAL POTENTIAL

Silo-port on the Danube will be the most modern in Serbia with the lowest cost, and will enable trade in agricultural production at the international level which will make Agrogrnja one of the most competitive companies in the agribusiness.

Silos are constructed and goods can already be stored while harbor will be completed in the upcoming months, but no later than June, when it grain crops export will start. Wheat is the first crops they plan to export.

Agrogrnja currently has turnover of 100,000 t of mercantile goods annually. With the construction of silo-ports with a total value of approximately EUR 5 million, Agrogrnja is becoming one of few that can, through its capacity, execute direct export of mercantile goods (currently these can be done only by large companies in Serbia), without the need to use other ports or reloading places in Serbia. In this way, the company raises its core business (trading in mercantile goods), to a higher level and is becoming a serious participant at the market of agriculture in Serbia.

In addition, the utility reloading IN ships, as well as providing storage of goods in silo-port, will significantly contribute to revenues generated by Agrogrnja in the future, after the completion of the entire investment.

The company expects that the investment will pay off within a period of 7 years.

Agrogrnja d.o.o was set up in 1996 in Pivnice - the region with the most fertile land in southeast Europe. From small family company for production of animal food called "Pivnicki koncentrati”, over the years, it has developed into a respectable company, which in its activities complies with international standards.

In 2010, they became an authorized public warehouse providers at the Compensation Fund of the Republic of Serbia and their silo in Ada is the first silo in Serbia which got licensed working permit of the Public warehouse. Also, since 2012, they have been authorized warehouse service providers at the Republic Directorate for commodity reserves and are ranked as exemplary storekeeper.

OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT

- Built silo have a total of 12 cells, 1 cell of silo is 2,432 m3 x 12 pieces = 30.000 m3 (actually 29.184 + 570 m3 buffer cells).

- A total of 448 pieces of piles were solved.

- Piles contain 109.150 kg of reinforcement and 1.182 m3 concrete.

- Foundation contains a total of 360.823,26 kg of reinforcement and 3.939 m3 of concrete which is with piles concrete 5.121 m3 i.e. piles reinforcement 469 t.

-Steel frame of canopy hopper and mechanical house 124,536.20 kg of steel was built in it.

If Silo-Port Beocin is your favorite for the Investment of the Year Award, you can vote for this nomination at the official website of the Aurea Award.

AgroGrnja Pivnice

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