Solidaridad engages local oil palm mill manufacturing firms

Solidaridad’s West Africa’s Sustainable Oil Palm Programme (SWAPP) has engaged two local oil palm mill manufacturing companies in the country to produce 20 single worm screw presses to support small-scale oil palm mills.

The two companies, Fateco Limited and Hormeku Engineering Limited, were contracted to manufacture single worm screw presses worth US$100,000 as part of SWAPP’s programme to improve efficiency and profitability of the oil palm sector in the region. 

Fateco received US$75,000 to produce 15 screw presses, eight with diesel engines and seven with electric motors at a cost of US$5,000 each. Hormeku Engineering Limited got US$25,000 to produce five screw presses, all with electric motors also at a cost of US$5,000 each. 

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony Engineer Robert Woode, Managing Director, Fateco applauded Solidaridad’s work through SWAPP in supporting the growth of the oil palm sector, not only by financial investment but also through technology, skills and knowledge transfer. 

“At Fateco, a company founded in 1984, we are excited to work with Solidaridad to effect transformation in the oil palm sector of Ghana. We applaud the programme’s effort to improve oil extraction through improved technology,” said Mr. Woode. 

According to Delle Kpebesaan, SWAPP, Regional Manager: “Through the manufacturing of 20 screw presses, SWAPP wants to demonstrate and support small and medium-scale mills to improve efficiency, increase their productivity and profitability. The use of screw presses improves the quantity and the quality of oil extracted.” 

The screw presses will further improve the quality and quantity of oil extracted. SWAPP is also working with the mills to address health and safety issues. It also facilitates the mills to reduce negative impact to the environment through proper effluent disposal and management. 

Ghana has more than 1,200 small-scale artisanal mills that produce close to 64% of the country’s Crude Palm Oil Palm. Less than 8% of the total artisanal mills in Ghana are using screw presses.

The recent mills survey by SWAPP revealed that about 85% of all local oil palm mills still use the “digester and spindle press” technology; only 10% have switched to screw press technology; and 5% still use motorised hydraulic press technology. 

“The mills will be accessible on a hire -basis. Already, some mill owners in the Eastern, Central and Western Regions are showing keen interest in the project and are making initial deposits for the screw presses,’’ said Kpebesaan.

Mr. Kpebesaan stated: “The 20 beneficiaries of the mills are going to receive technical support through the SWAPP incubator support”.

Fateco Limited and Hormeku Engineering Limited have been enrolled into the SWAPP Incubator programme to provide technical support for the millers to effectively utilise the screw presses. 

SWAPP is interested in improving the oil extraction rate and efficiency. Efficient in milling is essential for mills to pay good prices for Fresh Fruit Bunches that enable farmers to invest in better management of their farms to increase yields and profit.