Religious leaders tour Addax investment
Representatives of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) and Sierra Leone Muslim Missionary Union had the opportunity to visit the Addax Bioenergy project site in the Bombali and Tonkolili Districts on Friday 9th August 2013. Led by Reverend Chief Gbokowai Speck (CCSL) and Sheik Alie Kallay (Sierra Leone Muslim Missionary Union), the Religious Leaders were taken on a conducted tour of the company’s factory site, Rokel Estate and Pump Station, and Farmer Development Project. The aim of the tour aimed at providing the Religious Leaders first-hand knowledge on the company’s operations, and also dispels false rumours on the company’s project activities. (Photo: General Manager John Moult and Clive English)
After a comprehensive general update given by Addax’s Social Affairs and Farmer Development Manager, Clive English; representatives of the Religious Leaders pledged their commitment towards the protection of the company’s investment in the northern part of the country. “We are very much challenged because we are disappointed with challenges Addax is going through,” says Reverend Chief Gbokowai Speck, CCSL’s President. He pledged his institution’s commitment in ensuring that they take the right message to the project communities and their Church congregations. “We will send a clear message to the people that Addax is here for development and that Sierra Leoneans must see every reason to protect the company to enhance the economic development, which the country is always yearning for,” says the Man of God.
Sheik Alie Kallay of Sierra Leone Muslim Missionary Union said they as Islamic Scholars cannot sit by watching development projects dwindling in the country. He commended the Addax investment, which he said wil go a very long way in promoting national economic growth and development. “We will serve as advocates and do a Devine assignment to ensure that Addax operation is protected,” Sheik Kallay promised.
Giving an update on the Makeni Ethanol and power Project Social Affairs and Farmer Development Manager, Clive English said the project aims to cultivate about 10, 000 (ten thousand) hectars of sugarcane and produce one million tons per anum. He added that 2, 000 (two thousand) workers are required when the project would have commence full operations in 2014.
The 267m Euro project started in 2009 and is expected to be completed by 2014. The company hopes to have the first independent power plant in the country, and as a result have signed a 20yrs power purchase agreement with government and ratified by parliament. Addax power helps to level seasonality of Bumbuna hydro dam. Mr. English informed the Religious Leaders that the power capacity will be high in the dry season when that of Bumbuna is low, and it will decrease in the rainy season when that of Bumbuna is high. “This is all about complimenting the Bumbuna power supply project,” he said.
The Farmer Development Program Manager 2012 was their best year as they had 34 villages that joined in the company’s Farmer Development Program. Seven more villages are said to have joined the program this year. He revealed that the company has cultivated about 4, 200 acres of land for the project communities, and added that they are expecting to harvest about 1200kg rice per hectar this year, and train about 2000 farmers for thirty weeks.
The entire project, English said is monitored by the relevant authorities to ensure that it comply with the environmental protection instruments and have undertaken environmental and social impact assessment studies that are well certified. He informed the gathering that Addax has been paying land lease and acknowledgement agreement, of which ninety percent negotiation was done directly with land owners. “Development requires investment. Investors want return on investment, stable environment, good infrastructure, resources and construction approach,” says Mr. English.
Richard Harrison is the HSSE Supervisor for the factory site. He assured that work will be completed in six or seven months time. One of their challenges, he said is the heavy down pour of rain, which slows down work on site.
Sugar cane is one of the world’s most effective converters of solar energy to chemical energy. It has a high carbon fixation rate, high ethanol chemical yield etc. Last year the company relinquished about ten thousand hectars of land, and more unused community land will be will be relinquished this year. The company is willing to work with the various stakeholders, including Religious Leader to achieve its goal.
Abu Bakarr Kargbo
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