Key Points
- Investment & scope: $1 million “Project GreenEN” upgrade to the curing barn at BAT Fiji’s leaf division in Votualevu, Nadi.
- Emissions impact: Projected 428 tonnes of CO₂ reductions per year.
- Operational savings: Up to $200,000 in annual cost savings after completion in Q3 this year.
- ESG framework: Part of wider initiatives including Project GreenEN, Alliance for Water Stewardship, and Grow+.
- Local footprint: Fiji is among the few countries where BAT conducts leaf farming, supporting about 1,100 seasonal workers and hundreds of local farmers.
2Firsts, Sep 9, 2025 — British American Tobacco (BAT) Fiji has commissioned an upgraded curing barn at its Votualevu leaf facility, enabling a transition away from diesel to a more sustainable fuel source. The $1 million project—delivered in the third quarter under BAT’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programme—is expected to reduce the site’s carbon emissions by 428 tonnes annually and generate up to $200,000 in yearly cost savings.
The initiative forms part of BAT’s broader ESG agenda, which also includes Project GreenEN, Alliance for Water Stewardship efforts, and the Grow+ programme aimed at advancing environmental and social outcomes across the company’s “seed-to-consumer” operations.
“This marks some major achievements for the business,” said Vadim Maksimenko, BAT Cluster General Manager South Pacific. “The successful implementation of Project GreenEN will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and deliver material cost efficiencies.”
BAT noted that Fiji is one of the few countries where the company undertakes leaf farming, supporting approximately 1,100 seasonal workers alongside hundreds of local farmers. According to the company, the curing-barn upgrade is intended to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of its local leaf supply while contributing to national emissions-reduction goals.
