China firm invests 73bn/- to produce edible oil

TANZANIA: MAINLAND Group Agro Process Tanzania is investing 28 million US dollars (73bn/- ) to produce oil from sunflower seeds in Dodoma.

The Mainland Group targets to process between 30,000 tonnes and 35,000 tonnes per year depending on the availability of sunflower seeds.

China’s Yueyang City Mayor, Xie Weijiang, said when touring the construction site recently that the factory expects to start operation in December.

“The factory is very modern and will produce highquality oil from sunflower seeds,” the mayor said.

He was accompanied by a delegation of 18 people. The firm will have four silos with a maximum capacity of storing 30,000 tonnes.

Also, will produce animal feeds from the sunflower seeds’ byproducts.

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Additionally, the Mainland Group Agro Process Tanzania trades agro-products like maize, soybeans, cotton, sesame, cashews, cassava, rice, sorghum, coffee bean, cocoa bean and agricultural by-products like corn starch, soybean meal, and cottonseed cake.

Tanzania Investment Officer Diana Ladislaus said when welcoming the delegation that the firm will create 500 permanent jobs and has the obligation to transfer technology and skills to locals.

Currently, the country imports 320,000 tonnes of edible oil per year while its demand stands at 500,000 tonnes. The domestic production stands at 180,000 tonnes per year.