Implementing a large land based investment in Sierra Leone : land grab or real development?
Jorgen Sandstrom & Clive English
Addax Bioenergyys sugarcane-based project in Sierra Leone is an example of a sustainable model in the making. The project will be commissioned in February 2014. This includes a 10,000 hectare sugarcane estate, an ethanol factory, and a renewable electricity plant (to be fed by the sugarcane biomass) that will power the ethanol factory and provide approximately 20% of Sierra Leonees national grid. It is the first and only bioenergy project to be brought to financial close in Africa and the first bioenergy project certified under the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterial (RSB) in Africa. It is partially funded by eight international development finance institutions (DFI). Some 54,000 ha were originally leased for this purpose though the final design will involve only 24,600 ha with some 11,200 ha actually used for operational purposes. The remaining residual land is currently occupied by over 53 villages with 25,000 people. The dispersed nature of the operation presents particular challenges in terms of managing local stakeholder liaison and expectations and the way in which local land use planning decisions and consultation is undertaken. This has required innovative solutions to local tenure arrangements and the implementation of a full stakeholder engagement plan to ensure equitable solutions to local problems. The involvement with DFIs requires project compliance with the highest standards in all of these aspects in terms of corporate social responsibilities, observing tenure rights, monitoring of land use, environmental and social monitoring and management of the plant and related agricultural operations. The highest possible international standards are being implemented and monitored and the company has committed to a range of programmes to further local development. This includes a farmer development programme to promote food production and food security in the area and promotion of out grower sugar cane schemes for income generation. Innovative assistance has also been provided to assist traditional landowners establish deeds of land ownership, a formal asset compensation process and extensive infrastructure development. The latter has provided access to new land and provided local opportunities for commercial agriculture and food production. All of these programmes are being implemented against the background of a fully transparent stakeholder dialogue at all levels.
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