News

1200 hectares of sugarcane planted

12 December 2012

Addax Bioenergy has now planted over 1200 hectares of sugarcane at Makeni, Sierra Leone, since the bioethanol project began in 2010.

Sugarcane is widely recognized as the most efficient and sustainable crop for biofuel production, thanks to its highly fermentable sugar content, its residual fibers ideal for power generation and the recycling of by-products into fertilizer. This is the reason why it is Addax Bioenergy’s feedstock of choice.

The cane is being planted in circular fields (pivots) over the planned 10'000-hectare leased plantation area, as an innovative way to avoid villages (and resettlement) and to ensure the protection of local forests and biodiversity.

Sierra Leone's tropical climate, with over 2'500mm of rainfall per year, provides abundant water for most of the year, while circular irrigation pivots ensure water from the Rokel River during the dry season. Environment studies prior to beginning the project have shown that just 2% of the water flowing through the river will be used. The location was also chosen as the river is regulated by a hydroelectric dam opened in 2009, which maintains the flow, avoiding downstream impacts.

The plantation is expected to be completed by late 2013, when the bioethanol refinery and biomass power plant become operational.

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