Koroma challenges Magbass to expand

President Ernest Bai Koroma has concluded a weekend tour of the Magbass Sugar Company and ADDAX Bio-energy in Tonkolili and Bombali districts respectively. According to a press release from the Communication Unit at State House, shortly after touring hundreds of acres of sugar plantation and machinery at the Chinese-owned company, Koroma described Magbass as "part and parcel of the agricultural commercialization efforts of government despite the company being a private sector venture”. He noted that the project had added value to sugar production in the country. Koroma urged the company to increase its yield and improve on the quality of life of workers, saying “workers are the greatest asset of any business outfit". He observed that the Magbass project was the smallest outfit in all the company's operations around the world and challenged them to make it their biggest. The president encouraged the company to teach Sierra Leoneans how to grow sugar cane so as to help reduce land tensions surrounding some foreign-owned plantations in and out of Sierra Leone. Koroma reminded the company that there was no longer any monopoly in the sugar cane industry in Sierra Leone as companies like ADDAX Bio-energy were also engaged in the sugar cane plantation production and processing. He encouraged them to also develop other by-products like electricity, assuring that his government would continue to support the company in its operations. According to the General Manager of Magbass Sugar Company, Yang Cheng they produce over 6,000 tons of sugar per annum together with ethanol, sugar and electricity to power the factory. Yang said Magbass Sugar Complex was operating on 1,845 hectares of sugar plantation in Sierra Leone, the smallest sugar cane plantation among its nine factories in the world. President Koroma also visited ADDAX Bio-energy Company, a division of the Swiss- based Addax & Oryx Group near Makeni in Bombali district. He encouraged the company to do more. © Politico 13/06/13