Press Release
Grain Yield Increase and Disaster Reduction by “Fen long” Technology Invented in China Contributing to Improve the Better Future of Human Being
Editor’s Note:
In recent years, natural disasters such as drought and waterlogging occur frequently. Climate warming has triggered various disasters that affect existence, which has brought unprecedented challenges to grain production, ecological environment and world peace maintenance. “Fen long” technology, the new method of farming invented by Wei Benhui, the Chinese inventor, can help to solve these problems in the world to a certain extent and make the human future better by multiple using “5 kinds of resources”, soil and its cubic natural rainfall, oxygen, temperature, humidity and solar energy.
In August 2021, the yield of highland barley in the saline-alkali soil, which was transformed by “smash-ridging” technology in Zangzhong Village, Zhaqi Town, Zhanang County, Shannan City, Tibet, China, the roof of the world, increased by 38.67%. The highland barley yield of smash ridging sand soil farmland in Kemai Community, Changzhu Township, Naidong District, increased by 1121.73 kg, with 25.43% of increase range, and the straw yield also increased by more than 20%. Peng Xinhua, the researcher of Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences has implemented smash-ridging sweet potato experiment in Jiangxi Province, and the result was that the yield increased by 89% to 117%. The maximum production increase of wheat of heavy coast saline-alkali soil in Dongying City, Shandong Province was 154.22% after being transformed by “smash-ridging” technology. The production increase of cotton of heavy saline-alkali soil in Yuli County, Xinjiang Autonomous Region was yet 81.17% in the fourth year after being transformed by “smash-ridging” technology. Over the past decade, “smash-ridging” technology was applied to nearly 50 kinds of crops such as rice, corn and wheat in 28 provinces such as Guangxi and Xinjiang, and no more rich water, pesticide or other production costs was required while the production increase was generally 10% to 50%, the quality was improved by 5% and the increase production in saline-alkali soil was 20% to 100% after transformation. Experts estimated that, the natural disaster such as waterlogging, drought, high temperature and low temperature may be reduced by more than 20%, and soil environment improvement,and crop biomass increase will reduce carbon by more than 10% and increase ground air humidity by 10%.
Invented by Wei Benhui from Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, “smash-ridging” technology is a major new method of farming, which can realize a new round of production increase, quality improvement, water conservation, disaster reduction, carbon reduction and sustainable development of agriculture and contribute to widen the space of human existence and development.
In March 2021, “smash-ridging” technology was shown on the world’s No. 1 screen in Times Square, which stated that the smash ridging agricultural machinery and smash ridging farming that would not mess the soil layers for ultra deep ploughing had broken through worldwide problems such as “physical” production increase of agriculture and physical transformation of saline-alkali soil. “Smash-ridging” technology which has shocked the world is common technology, common welfare and common wealth of all mankind.
The advert of “smash-ridging” technology marks that the world has ushered in a very rare new agricultural revolution. The technology is simple, widely applied and sustainable for hundreds of years. It has realized increase of grain production and decrease of disaster to benefit human being.
1. Creating subversive fifth farming mode, which is worldwide used
“Smash-ridging” technology is named after vertical burying, high-speed rotary-cut smash soil, ridge and suspend by using spiral, hollow and other “drill” farming tools invented by Wei Benhui, instead of the “plow” which has been used for 5,500 years. “Smash-ridging” technology has become the fifth efficient farming mode after slash-and-burn cultivation, man power, animal power and tractor ploughing in the history of human farming. “Smash-ridging” technology structured “smash-ridging agriculture” technology system that matches smash-ridging agricultural machinery, smash-ridging farming and smash-ridging cultivation and overturned traditional farming way and agricultural production technical philosophy by using the scientific concept of “ultra deep ploughing and deep loosening the soil without messing the soil layers”. The worldwide universal technology expands the space for human existence and development, and its scientific connotation and characteristics are as below:
First of all, fully excavate natural resource utilization that the earth feeds human being. With 5 kinds of natural resources, soil, the grain producer which the mankind survives on, natural rainfall, oxygen, temperature and humidity and solar energy, once more multiple positive utilization can be realized on the basis of existent farming and agricultural utilization to promote a new round of agricultural production increase, quality improvement, water conservation, disaster reduction, carbon drop and sustainable development.
Secondly, trigger deepening utilization of the surface soil of earth with a light force. Loosened soil increases several times over., and most of soil is granular, and granular structure surface is smooth. Unit weight decreases by 10% to 20%, and available nutrient increases by 10% to 30%. Basic fertility improves by 10% to 30%, and applying quantity of chemical fertilizer for planting crop can reduce by more than 10%.
Thirdly, create cultivated land reservoir with loosened soil and expanded volume. Natural rainfall reserves approximately double, which provides conditions for human being to utilize rainwater and snow water again. Soil porosity enlarges approximately and oxygen increase approximately by one time. Soil microbial community and quantity increase by almost multiple times.
Fourthly, create soil ecological environment that is suitable for crop growth. Smash ridging cultivation requires soil ecological environment with balanced water, fertilizer, gas and heat. The crop takes roots in the earlier stage, strengthens in the medium stage and becomes powerful in the later stage. It features production increase and quality improvement with resistant to drought, high and low temperature. The root system is particularly developed with fibrous root increasing and activity strengthening. The photosynthetic efficiency improves by 10% to 30%, and the stress resistance such as drought and high and low temperature improves by approximately 20%, while biomass increases by 20% to 30%.
Fifthly, create suitable environment for crops based on ecological conditions in which high agricultural yield is still available and consumption of agricultural “chemicals” is achievable even the consumption of fertilizer and pesticide can be reduced by more than 10% and some plastic mulch can be reduced. Some of polluted soil can be “purified itself”. For example, reduction of heavy metal pollution (reduction of cadmium content of rice) is a physical effect that other chemical means can hardly match.
Sixthly, realize no ecological area or crop variety limit. Almost all crops and some traditional Chinese medicinal materials in rice field, dry land and even saline-alkali soil can be applied to from Hainan Province at low latitude (18°N) to Xinjiang and Heilongjiang at high latitude (45° to 50°N), from Beihai of Guangxi at low altitude (10 to 15 metres) to Shigatse of Tibet at high altitude (over 4,000 metres), which indicates that there is no obvious limit on ecological area or crop variety, and it can be generally used in the world.
2. Application in China’s cultivated land and saline-alkali soil in 2021, with outstanding results
Test on smash ridging has been implemented in many places of China, and the result showed that comparing with traditional cultivation, the yield of rice increased by 15.5%, that of corn increased by 12.26%, and that of peanut increased by 8.05% with no fertilization.
“Smash ridging” technology has been applied to 50 kinds of crops such as rice, corn, wheat and potato in 28 provinces all over China for more than a decade, and production increase achieved 10% to 50%, and production increase in saline-alkali soil after being transformed achieved 20% to 100% with no increasing fertilization or irrigation volume. There are many cases of production increase in various places. In Yuanjiang City of Hunan Province, yield of smash ridging rice increased by 26.5% in that year, and it still increased by 12% in the fourth year after the first smash ridging cultivation. The yield of smash ridging wheat in Fuping, Shaanxi Province increased by 29.9%, and that of the second crop of corn increased by 34.89%. The average production increase of rained farming sugarcane was 32.5%.
In 2021, the cases of production increase with “smash-ridging” technology occurred frequently, and the results are outstanding.
Firstly, rice production continuously increases with “smash-ridging” technology. Yaoguao Town, Longhui County, Hunan Province used to be the breakthrough point where Academician Yuan Longping’s hybrid rice yields reached 900 kg per mu. In April 2014, “smash-ridging” cultivation was implemented, and the yield of hybrid rice increased by 25% in that year. It has been the 8th year since “smash ridging” technology was implemented, but the yield of hybrid rice is expected to increase by 10% or so. The yield of second crop of rice after rice smash ridging was implemented in Yongan Village, Shifu Town, Nanning City, Guangxi Autonomous Region increased by 9.5%.
Secondly, smash ridging water conservation and continuous high yield lasted for many years. In 2021, the third year after “smash-ridging” technology was implemented in Yanshan, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province, the yield of wheat with water conservation increased by 18% with irrigation reduction by nearly 2,000 cubic metres per hectare. In 2021, the sixth year after “smash-ridging” technology was implemented in Fanjiazhai Village, Guyang Town, Lankao County, Henan Province, the yield of wheat increased by 10.3%.
Thirdly, “smash-ridging” agriculture and saline alkali soil transformation in highland region. As previous statement, the yield of highland barley of saline alkali soil in Tibet, the roof of the world, increased by 38.67%, that of highland barley of sand soil cultivated land with “smash-ridging” technology increased by 25.43%, that of highland barley straw increased by more than 20%, which can effectively solve the problem of lack of grain and feed in Tibet.
Fourthly, the history of high yield of sugarcane in a large area with “smash-ridging” technology was made. “Smash-ridging” technology “145” demonstration base for planting sugarcane was built in Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences. On March 6, 2021, upon experts’ acceptance, it increased by 38.3% than conventional cultivation. “Smash-ridging” technology “145” demonstration in Binyang of Guangxi, is expected to make history of green ecological high yield of sugarcane in a large area with entire mechanization to bring a sample for China’s and the world’s sugarcane planting technology.
3. Increasing grain yield and decreasing disaster by conforming to the nature, and all the mankind getting a better future
The best living quality and survival and development environment with abundant and tasteful food, fresh air and visible blue sky and cloud are mankind’s good wishes.
The earth is endowed with 5 kinds of inexhaustible natural resources, soil and its stereoscopic spatial natural rainfall, oxygen, temperature and humidity and solar energy. Soil is the “producer” of grain and other agricultural products the human being survives on and the “regulator” of natural environment to relieve drought, waterlogging and other natural disasters. In order to realize the above dreams, human being has to profoundly comprehend and properly utilize the “5 kinds of natural resources”, which is the fundamental obedience to the rules of resource utilization for mankind’s survival. For a country, the more proper utilization rate of “the 5 kinds of natural resources” of the stereoscopic space, the more secure grain and ecology in the country, the more fortunate of national life, which is also in this way for all the world and all the mankind.
The core of “smash-ridging” technology is to multiply sound utilization of the above “5 kinds of natural resources”. Its pioneering scientific contribution is based on the principle of “ultra deep cultivation and deep loosening (by utilizing the soil resources of plough sole which human being has not utilized yet), loosening soil at original site, granular soil, once off completion of soil preparation., and no tillage or light tillage for conservation tillage for years”. Meanwhile, “smash-ridging” technology is almost applied to various land resources including cultivated land and saline alkali soil so that agricultural available resources have expanded substantially. Furthermore, yield increase can be maintained with properly reducing fertilization. Additionally, it is easy to popularize and apply, and it is merely to replace tractor “plough” cultivation with smash ridging “drill”. Rice field is 25 cm deep, and dry land is 35 cm deep, and saline alkali soil is 40 cm deep. Expected effect is achievable with no excessive input or technical instruction required.
Wei Benhui said that invention of spiral and hollow “drill” tillage implements would certainly bring a major change of tillage implements and modernization of series products of smash ridging agricultural machinery equipment. The world will usher in great new times of “smash-ridging agriculture”.
According to expert’s estimates, if 1 billion mu of farmland and 300 million saline alkali land are cultivated in China, 130 billion kg of grain can be increased every year and 300 to 400 million more people can be fed. If land “smash-ridging” technology is implemented in 50% of farmland in the world, yield of grain can be increased and more people can be fed.
With “smash-ridging” technology, 40 to 50 cubic metres of natural rainfall reserve can be increased for cultivated land per mu, and drought, waterlogging and other disasters can be reduced. Recently, heavy waterlogging occurred in Henan Province. Because light tillage is carried out in most of cultivate land (most of loosened soil of plough layer is 12 to 15 cm), the soil of button layer is compacted and moves upward due to rolling by tractor wheels for years. Adding the road extension and ground hardening in the villages, there is no more place for water reservation. If “smash ridging” technology is implemented in half of cultivated land, such affect of rainstorm can be reduced greatly. Also, with improving smash ridging soil environment and significant increasing crop biomass, the goals including carbon reduction, peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutralization can be achieved early, and global warming can be relived greatly.
“Smash-ridging agriculture” and its entire production technology system invented and created by Wei Benhui have surpassed the existent agricultural production mode and have been affirmed and supported by Yuan Longping and other more than 10 Chinese academicians. The technology system has been practiced to almost all crop varieties from low latitude to high latitude and from low altitude to high altitude. It can be popularized globally and is expected to be a new mainstream technology in the world to lead the trend of agricultural cultivation development. The future will be better for all mankind. (Written by Heng Yi)
[Character Introduction]
Wei Benhui, the inventor of “smash-ridging” technology, Chinese cultivation expert, secondary researcher of Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, has acquired 21 achievements in sugarcane, Chinese yam, potato, cassava and “smash-ridging” technology, 18 national, provincial and ministerial awards, 15 invention patents. He has bred 26 new varieties of Chinese yam. Additionally, he has published 10 works such as China’s Ecology for Grain Increase with Smash Ridging Alive Soil and Chinese Yam Cultivation as well as more than 170 papers. He has won the titles of National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker of China, Special Allowance Expert of the State Council, Guangxi Excellent Expert, Guangxi Outstanding Contribution Expert, Guangxi Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological worker, etc.
About Author
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
Press Release
300 Scientology Volunteers Distribute 500,000 Drug-Prevention Booklets during Winter Olympics
MILAN, Italy — 12 February 2026 — A volunteer network of around 300 people (and increasing) has been active since January in a nationwide drug-prevention initiative in Italy, distributing educational materials titled “The Truth About Drugs”. Reports show that more than 500,000 informational booklets have already been handed out, with Milan leading the effort and additional Italian cities increasingly involved.
The outreach is supported by the European Office of the Church of Scientology as part of its long-running backing for community-based drug education and prevention initiatives inspired by L. Ron Hubbard.
The campaign is a prevention-through-information effort: providing clear, accessible explanations of commonly abused substances, their short- and long-term effects, and the risks to physical and mental health. The aim is to place fact-based information in everyday settings—streets, public areas and community environments—so that teenagers and families can recognise risks early and make informed choices before a first “experiment” becomes a habit.
The booklets, published under the “Truth About Drugs” programme, describe different substances in circulation and the harms they can cause. Many volunteers have witnessed that the materials are written to be understood without specialist knowledge and are used as conversation starters—particularly where young people may face peer pressure or encounter misleading narratives that minimise risk.
Across Europe, prevention is frequently discussed not only as a health policy issue but also as a social one: drug markets often thrive by targeting vulnerability, normalising first use, and drawing adolescents into cycles of dependence and exploitation. In this context, organisers argue that community-level distribution of verified information supports youth safeguarding and strengthens social resilience—especially when it helps teenagers identify manipulation and resist pressure.
Athletes and prevention messaging: sport as a symbol of healthy choices
Organisers also point to growing athlete participation in the outreach. Julie Delvaux, a Belgian volunteer who has been helping, stated that more than 100 athletes connected to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have signed the Foundation for a Drug-Free World’s Honorary Register, signalling support for drug-prevention messaging aimed at youth.
In a broader policy context, European Parliament Vice-President Antonella Sberna highlighted the importance of sustained investment in grassroots sport and civic participation during a European Parliament debate in Strasbourg on 6 October 2025: “European policies must continue to invest in local sports infrastructure, volunteering and the participation of young people and women.(English translation)” Organisers say the campaign’s reliance on local volunteers and youth engagement reflects that same emphasis on community-level involvement.
In the organisers’ framing, sport provides a natural platform for prevention conversations because it is closely associated with discipline, performance, recovery, mental focus and long-term wellbeing. Volunteers add that athletes’ willingness to be publicly associated with prevention messaging can help counter the idea that drug use is “normal” or consequence-free—particularly for young people who look to elite sport as a reference point for healthy living.
One of the most intensive distribution days took place on 6 February 2026, the date of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Around 100 volunteers gathered and distributed over 100,000 booklets in a single day, leveraging the concentration of visitors and public attention in the city.
Distribution launched in January and has now surpassed 500,000 booklets. This as the early phase of a longer-term programme that will continue over the coming months, with volunteers maintaining a presence in multiple cities and expanding into additional neighbourhoods as local capacity grows.
Recent reporting underscores why prevention remains a persistent policy concern. A Reuters report (25 June 2024), based on an annual government report to Italy’s Parliament, stated that 39% of Italians aged 15 to 19 had consumed illegal substances at least once. The same report noted figures on youth exposure to cocaine and cannabis-related products and described trends returning toward pre-pandemic levels.
For readers seeking original documentation, Italy’s official reporting on the drug phenomenon is published through the national anti-drug policy structures; an English-language version of the annual report to Parliament includes data and context on youth patterns and substance categories.
At the European level, wider monitoring points to shifting patterns among younger teenagers, even as risks remain significant and uneven across countries. The EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) overview of the latest ESPAD survey results highlights longer-term trends among 15–16-year-old students across participating European countries, illustrating how prevention strategies must adapt to changing behaviours and new risks.
Organisers’ perspective: prevention as disruption of the first step
In statements circulated in connection with the Italian campaign, Foundation for a Drug-Free World Executive Director Jessica Hochman argues that drug markets depend on first use becoming normalised and repeatable. She frames prevention as the most direct way to disrupt that pathway: when young people understand what drugs do to the body, she says, curiosity often diminishes. (See: the campaign statement distributed via PR Newswire.)
The focus is not on moralising, but on making information available in a form that young people will read. The objective is to reduce the space in which myths thrive—particularly myths that portray drugs as a harmless experiment rather than a pathway into health damage, dependency and, in some cases, criminal exploitation.
The initiative is prompted by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a non-profit public benefit organisation (recognized the UN ECOSOC with consultative status) that produces and distributes factual drug-education materials. In its published programme description, the Foundation states that, through a worldwide network of volunteers, 100 million drug prevention booklets have been distributed, with drug awareness events held in some 180 countries, and public service announcements aired by numerous broadcasters.
Organisers of the Italian outreach say that this infrastructure—standardised materials, translations and volunteer coordination—supports rapid scaling when local communities decide to prioritise prevention. They also emphasise that the Italian effort is designed to be practical: short, repeatable distribution activities, paired with materials that can be used by families, educators and community groups as reference points.
The support from the Church of Scientology has helped make the educational materials widely available. Within Scientology’s public accounts of its community work, drug education is visible as part of a broader set of social and humanitarian initiatives inspired by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.
In that framework, local volunteer distributions are presented as one element of ongoing community activity—alongside other prevention and education initiatives—intended to strengthen neighbourhood-level support systems and reduce the harms associated with illicit markets.
Public health, youth safeguarding and social resilience: a European civic lens
According to church representative Ivan Arjona, “drug prevention is not simply a matter of individual behaviour but also one of social environment. Illicit drug markets frequently intersect with violence, recruitment, intimidation and forms of coercion that can pull teenagers into harmful networks”. In that context, “accessible information is a protective tool: it supports informed choice, reduces the likelihood of first use, and can help communities limit the space in which exploitation takes root”.
Arjona, the Church of Scientology’s representative to the European Union, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the United Nations, connected the initiative to European civic priorities such as protecting young people, strengthening social cohesion, and resisting criminal exploitation:
“Across Europe, protecting young people is not only a health objective but a civic duty. Drug markets thrive where vulnerability can be exploited and where misinformation lowers the perceived risk of ‘trying’. Providing verified, understandable information strengthens autonomy and informed choice, and it helps communities reduce the social space in which criminal networks operate.”
Distributions will continue in additional Italian cities over the weeks ahead, with volunteers maintaining a focus on public spaces and community settings where young people can be reached with straightforward, factual materials.
The Church of Scientology, its churches, missions, groups and members are present across the European continent. Scientology has a continent-wide presence through more than 140 churches, missions and affiliated groups in all the 27 European Union nations and more, alongside thousands of community-based social betterment and reform initiatives focused on education, prevention and neighbourhood-level support, inspired by the work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Within Europe’s diverse national frameworks for religion, the Church’s recognitions continue to expand, with administrative and judicial authorities in Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany Slovakia and others, as well as the European Court of Human Rights, having addressed and acknowledged Scientology communities as protected by the national and international provisions of Freedom of Religion or belief.
Media Contact
Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights
Contact Person: Ivan Arjona
Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org
Email: Send Email
Address:Boulevard de Waterloo 103
City: Brussels
State: Brussels
Country:Belgium
Release id:41341
The post 300 Scientology Volunteers Distribute 500,000 Drug-Prevention Booklets during Winter Olympics appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
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Habitto Announces Savings Account Interest Rate Revision Effective February 1, 2026
Tokyo, Japan, 12th Feb 2026 – Habitto today announced a revision to the interest rates on its Habitto Savings Account, effective February 1, 2026. With this update, Habitto continues to support customers in building healthier savings habits and long term financial stability.
Updated interest rates
- Balances up to JPY 1,000,000: 0.6 percent per annum (0.478 percent after tax)
- Portion exceeding JPY 1,000,000: 0.3 percent per annum (0.239 percent after tax)
The revised interest rates are automatically applied to all existing Habitto account holders from the effective date. Customers opening a new account will receive the updated rates immediately upon account activation.
Comment from Habitto leadership
Liam McCance, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Habitto, commented:
“By raising our savings rate, we are making it easier for customers to grow everyday funds while building toward future goals. As Japan’s first Savings Shop, Habitto brings together savings, simple cash management, and free, unbiased financial guidance so customers can develop money habits that feel practical and sustainable.”
Designed for clearer money habits
Habitto’s tiered interest rate structure is intended to make saving feel simpler and more deliberate. Customers can keep funds accessible for daily needs while allowing money set aside for future goals to grow steadily. The Habitto app supports this approach through a straightforward banking experience and access to human support when needed.
This Savings Shop model combines saving, spending organization, and personalized guidance without tying financial advice to specific products.
Additional Habitto services
In addition to its savings account, Habitto provides access to licensed financial planners at no cost, matched to each customer’s situation. The service also includes a debit card offering a 0.8 percent cash back rate, helping customers manage daily spending while staying focused on long term goals.
About Habitto
Habitto is Japan’s first Savings Shop, a digital banking platform that combines savings accounts, cash management, and access to licensed financial planners through its mobile application. Habitto’s financial guidance is independent and not linked to specific financial products. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and serves customers across Japan.
Company details
Company name: Habitto Inc.
City: Tokyo (Shibuya-ku)
Official website: https://www.habitto.com/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/habitto_jp
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/habitto_japan/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@habitto_japan
Media Contact
Organization: Habitto Inc.
Contact Person: Liam McCance
Website: https://habitto.com
Email:
press@habitto.com
Contact Number: +81359367315
Address:3-19-7 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Country:Japan
Release id:40946
The post Habitto to Raise Savings Account Interest Rate to 0.6% Effective February 1, 2026 appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
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Windhoek, Khomas, Namibia, 12th Feb 2026 – Trustco Group Holdings Ltd (“Trustco”) confirms that Meya Mining Limited (“Meya”), in which Trustco holds a minority interest, has secured a USD 25 million (NAD 400 million) financing facility with Ecobank Sierra Leone Limited, supported by Ecobank Ghana Plc. The funding marks a significant milestone as Meya advances toward full commercial diamond production under its 25-year exclusive mining license in Sierra Leone’s Kono District.
The signing ceremony took place on the opening day of the Africa Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa. According to Meya, the facility will be deployed toward advanced diamond processing equipment, mining vehicles and supporting infrastructure.
Meya’s shareholders have to date invested in excess of USD 100 million in the development of the resource and initial establishment of the mine. The financing represents a significant vote of confidence by a leading pan-African banking group in the quality, scale, and long-term geo-economic potential of the Meya diamond asset.
According to Meya, the facility is expected to stimulate local supply chains by routing payments through Sierra Leonean accounts, creating and sustaining over 400 direct jobs with more than 90% of employees sourced locally, and strengthening Sierra Leone’s position in the global diamond industry through traceable, responsibly mined stones. The transaction is also expected to encourage further investment in beneficiation, including cutting and polishing, to maximise national value capture.
Quinton Z van Rooyen, Deputy Group CEO of Trustco
As previously disclosed, Trustco’s exposure to Meya comprises an indirect equity interest and a loan receivable of approximately USD 46 million. Trustco therefore remains both a long-term stakeholder in the project and a significant creditor with a direct economic interest in the sustainable advancement, value preservation, and orderly commercialisation of the mine.
Quinton Z van Rooyen, Deputy Group CEO of Trustco, commented: “The decision by Ecobank to commit USD 25 million to Meya is a powerful external validation of what we have long maintained – that the Meya asset is of exceptional quality with multi-generational potential. For Trustco, as both equity holder and significant creditor, this facility de-risks the path to commercial production and brings us closer to realising the full value of our investment. It also sends a clear signal to the broader market that serious institutional capital is now flowing into this project.”
Shareholders are advised that the facility has not been concluded at Trustco level. Trustco has not approved the facility at board, shareholder, subsidiary, or group level, and has not provided any guarantees, sureties, undertakings, consents, or security in respect thereof. The facility does not constitute a transaction by Trustco requiring categorisation or approval under the JSE Listings Requirements.
The full press release issued by Meya Mining and Ecobank is available for viewing at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F4B2GR4Tk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Shareholders will be kept informed of any further developments that are price-sensitive or otherwise require disclosure.
About Trustco:
Trustco Group Holdings Limited is a holding company headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, that owns subsidiaries engaged in diverse business activities spanning the real estate, mining, insurance, micro-finance, and education sectors.
About Namibia:
Namibia is a Southern African country with a population of approximately three million and a GDP per capita of USD 4 413 in 2025 (IMF). The country is endowed with rich natural resources, with recent major discoveries of oil and gas reserves, lithium deposits and rare earth minerals that are vital for technology demand globally, with developments also underway in its green hydrogen projects. The Namibian government has heralded these discoveries as a transformative period, holding the potential to double the nation’s GDP by 2040.
The country’s economy is projected to have expanded by 3.6% in 2025 and is projected to expand by 3.8% in 2026 (IMF). With its wealth of natural resources, pro-business environment, political stability and increasingly skilled workforce, Namibia offers attractive investment prospects across all sectors.
Forward-Looking Statements:
All statements made in this media release with respect to Trustco’s current plans, estimates, strategies beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
Media Contact
Organization: Trustco Group Holdings
Contact Person: Neville Basson
Website: https://www.tgh.na
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +264612754501
Address:2 Keller Street, Trustco House
Address 2: Windhoek
City: Windhoek
State: Khomas
Country:Namibia
Release id:41277
The post ECOBANK BACKS MEYA MINING WITH USD 25 MILLION FACILITY appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section
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Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
300 Scientology Volunteers Distribute 500,000 Drug-Prevention Booklets during Winter Olympics
Habitto to Raise Savings Account Interest Rate to 0.6% Effective February 1, 2026
ECOBANK BACKS MEYA MINING WITH USD 25 MILLION FACILITY
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