Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), UK
Nick Rouse, Managing Director, nick.rouse@frontiermarketsfm.com
Orli Arav, Head of Project Finance, orli.arav@frontiermarketsfm.com

FMO, Netherlands
Nanno Kleiterp, CEO, n.kleiterp@fmo.nl
Jurgen Rigterink, Chief Investment Officer, j.Rigterink@fmo.nl
Nico Pijl, Chief Risk & Finance Officer, n.pijl@fmo.nl

Swedfund, Sweden
Per Juth, Director, Business Development, Per.Juth.@swedfund.se

German Investment and Development Fund (DEG)
Bruno Wenn, CEO, bruno.wenn@deginvest.de
Dr. Peter Thimme, Manager for Environment and Sustainable Development, thi@deginvest.de

Austrian Development Bank (OeEB), Austria
CEO, Mrs Andrea Hagmann, Andrea.Hagmann@oe-eb.at
Mr Michael Wancata, Michael.Wancata@oe-eb.at

European Financing Partners (EFP) - European Investment Bank (EIB)
Philippe Maystadt, President of the Board, p.maystadt@eib.org

African Development Bank, Cote d’Ivoire
Donald Kaberuka, President, d.kaberuka@afdb.org
F.J.M. Perrault, Director Operations Department West 2 Region, f.perrault@afdb.org


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am, deeply concerned about the investment deals currently being considered for an ethanol project in Sierra Leone, proposed by Addax Bioenergy, a subsidiary of the Swiss Addax-Oryx Group. 20,000 hectares of sugar cane and cassava plantations for ethanol as well the construction of an ethanol refinery are planned. The total investment would be for £210 million (240 million Euros).

Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries. More than two thirds of the population live in absolute poverty, 50% suffer from hunger and malnutrition, nearly half a million people depend on food aid from the World Food Programme. In order to guarantee consistent ethanol production, at cassava, the staple food in the region, is to be turned into agrofuel during at least 150 days a year. The ethanol project thus directly competes with people’s need for food and threatens their food security and food sovereignty.

Contrary to Addax’s claims, the land which is to be converted to plantations is neither infertile nor degraded. It is fertile farmland on which small farmers practice sustainable agriculture and produce food for the local population. Contrary to sugar cane monocultures, the current farming system provides habitat for numerous plant and animal species.

The land is to be leased for fifty years and small farmers are to be paid minimal companesation of $6 per hectare per year. The sugar cane harvest is to be mechanised, which will minimize the number of jobs. In no way will there be compensation for the loss of people’s land and livelihoods. The project thus resembles an organised land grab.

Another serious concern is the requirement for water both for irrigation during the dry season and for the refinery. This is to be taken from the Rokel River. Furthermore, ethanol refining produces large quantities of highly polluted water, called vinasse. The 15 MW of electricity to be provided to households and industry in Sierra Leone does not in any way justify the conversion of 20,000 hectares of land to sugar cane monocultures.

Although Addax has provided a 270 pages long Environmental Impact Assessment, that document contains only vague information about the project impacts and the necessary measures for the protection of communities and the environment. The loss of people’s livelihoods and food production are unavoidable.

It is irresponsible that Addax speaks about seven public-private development and investment funds which collaborate with and support the project
(www.addax-oryx.com/AddaxBioenergy/AddaxBioenergy-QuickView-Report-Launch-of-Public-Disclosure-of-ESHIA.pdf, page 5 unten, image 9): The European Development Bank (EFP-EIB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the German Investment and Development Fund (DEG), the UK-based Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), FMO in the Netherlands, the Austrian Development Bank (OEB), and Swedfund in Sweden. Those claims help to make the project looks respectable amongst policy makers in Sierra Leone and to wind their support.

I therefore urge you to immediately an unequivocally reject any type of support or investment for the project, which would contradict your organization’s aims because the project will worsen, not alleviate poverty in Sierra Leone.

Yours faithfully,