New CDC Giant Oil Mill to Go Operational in March

Cameroon’s agro-industrial giant, Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, has announced that a new oil mill located at Illoani will go operational come March 2010 to boost local and international production, while the Boa Plain and the Matuke Rubber projects are on course. This information was disclosed by Chief Henry Njalla Quan, General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC.

According to the Project Mill Manager, Polycarp Chungong, the overall cost of the mill equipment, installation and construction of offices and houses is estimated to gulp FCFA seven million and funded by the CDC. The Illoani Oil Mill is expected to handle 85,000 tons of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFF) per year at peak production. The mill would process fruits from the Illoani Oil Palm Estate that currently has approximately 1,525 hectares of palms.

On another note, Chief Henry Njalla Quan hinted that the agro-industrial giant is ready to bounce back after its ambitious plans were greatly hit by the 2008 global financial crisis, which affected mostly the rubber industry.
The CDC boss gave the assurance during a bi-annual management staff meeting on January 8, 2010 at the CDC Staff Club Bota. He said when top management looked for efforts to salvage the situation and decided to review the 2009 budget and diversify production in the palm, rubber and banana sectors, many critics complained about the vision of such a venture. 

The GM hinted that these investments have started yielding fruits with the introduction of a new banana brand in the European market called the Makossa Banana which is a product of the Banana Expansion project. In addition, he advanced reasons for the modernisation of CDC equipment and property that would be attained through the purchase of new vehicles and the construction of 5,000 houses for CDC personnel and the refurbishment of existing structures.

He equally announced that there are plans for electricity supply to be made available to all the camps through a FCFA 200 million partnership agreement with AES SONEL. There are also plans to introduce a water purifier that could produce approximately 6,000 litres per hour. These major would greatly help curb shortages of water and electricity.

Chief Njalla Quan, however, called on CDC employees to continue working hard for the development of the corporation. He also asked trade unions to become partners of development in the corporation’s path to stability.
Meanwhile, Mme Faustin Echu, CDC staff representative highlighted their worries to the top management such as the poor conditions of roads, water and electricity shortage, stealing and fraud. She however praised the GM for his willpower especially during the turbulent period while appealing for the employment of more youths and the provision of bonuses.

On his part, Mr Stephen Ndoping, CDC Director of Human Resources appreciated the innovative style that has been orchestrated by the GM to exploit opportunities that are yielding fruits today.The meeting was characterised with the presentation of reports by the various heads of departments while the GM presented a paper on the CDC of tomorrow.

By Mbenju Mafany