Sierra Leone launches $ 200 mm bioenergy project
25-01-09
President Ernest Bai Koroma launched a $ 200-mm project that would see
the production of renewable energy and employ more than 4,000 Sierra
Leoneans at Lungi Acre, Makari Gbanti Chiefdom. Speaking at the occasion,
the Head of State expressed delight that through his government's
business-friendly approach, the country was now attracting big companies
with big projects.
"This project is further demonstration of our growing ability to attract
huge economic investments, enhanced by the prevailing conditions of good
governance in our country. This unique project is not the result of charity
from the more developed countries or from our development partners; it has
been designed by one of the most hard-headed business concerns operating in
the world today. They have undertaken this venture because they believe that
their investment will be safe in this country and that they will make a fair
profit from their enterprise."
The President said the project's objectives were fully aligned with his
government's over-arching investment policy, focusing on labour-intensive
industries, value addition to products, significant foreign direct
investment, export orientation, intensive use of local raw materials,
manpower development and technology transfer, electricity production for
commercial purposes, and use of renewable energy resources.
President Koroma also paid special tribute to the land owners: "… this
project would never have materialized but for the friendliness and
hospitality of the host community. Let us never forget that they, and they
alone, offered this land and thus provided the basic requirement that made
it possible for a commercial investment of this magnitude," while stating
that other business entitities have no more excuse for not investing in
land-oriented activities upcountry.
The President said the investing company, Addax International, has had a
long relationship with Sierra Leone, having been operating in the oil
industry and the mineral sector.
"The fact that it is nowdiversifying into agriculture calls for
celebrations. My government is looking forward to more investment ventures
of this type, which could enhance our capacity to achieve our Millennium
Development Goals," he declared.
Dilating on a progress report of the company earlier, Managing Director
Nikolai Germann, first thanked the President for gracing the occasion and
then said Sierra Leone has the suitable climate for their project. He said
Sierra Leone's special trade agreements with EU countries, where they would
eventually find a market for their products, would be beneficial to their
enterprise.
In giving details of the project, Mr Nikolai said the sugar cane plantation
would take 20,000 hectares of land (15 times more than the Magbass Sugar
Complex in the Tonkolili district), the ethanol distillery/factory would
produce more than 1,200,000 litres of ethanol per year, and they would put
up a 30 MW power plant that would be able to supplement Bumbuna. He said the
project's funding has been approved andby June this year they would have
made some major breakthrough.
Other speakers included Minister of Energy & Power Afsatu Kabba, Deputy
Minister of Agriculture Alie Mansaray, Addax Bioenergy (SL) Limited Country
Director Vincent Kanu (owner of the famous Wusum/Apex Hotel in Makeni) and
Addax Group Chief Executive Francois Jaclot. Others present were
Presidential Affairs Minister Alpha Kanu, Bombali Members of Parliament
Martin Bangura and Alimamy Kamara, and Paramount Chiefs Massa Yeli Tham II
and Bai Shebora Kasangha II of Makari Gbanti and Bombali Shebora Chiefdoms
respectively. The occasion was chaired by Resident Minister North Alie D.
Kamara.
The President and entourage were taken on a conduct tour of the cultivated
sugar cane farm site where he planted the first sugar cane. Ethanol
production has the potential of drastically reducing Sierra Leone's total
dependence on petroleum products.
Source: http://allafrica.com /
Concord Times |