Site to get new palm mill

By DALE LUMA
NEW Britain Palm Oil Ltd (NBPOL) is looking at commissioning a mini palm oil mill in February at its Markham site, group chief executive officer Jamie Graham says.
Graham outlined the progress of NBPOL’s Markham project in Morobe: “We (are) trying something that we haven’t tried before.”
“We are actually putting in a mini mill to start with and we are expecting to have it commissioned by the end of February next year.
“That facility will be to process the fruit that’s already there and at the same time we will build a bigger mill to cope with the crop when it comes to full production,” he said.
“The trees are coming into bearing and fortunately the previous owner had actually planted the trees before we bought the property.
“We are fast-tracking the new oil mill and work has begun on the foundation.
“We are also in discussions and have been working with local communities in terms of voluntary customary usage agreements so that they can produce their own crop and then we can put it through the mill at Erap.
“We are also very interested in village oil palm and working with villagers on their own oil palm blocks in that part of the Markham Valley.
“This year, we had a new pavilion in the Morobe Show.
“There was a lot of interest shown from local people about what we do, not just up at Ramu but in Oro (Northern) and Milne Bay as well as obviously at West New Britain and New Ireland.
“There are some exciting times ahead for both New Britain Palm Oil and the people.”