by Judith Kasek, EM TV – Pomio, East New Britain
One of the most remote and least developed districts in East New Britain is slowly developing with assistance from Malaysian owned Palm Oil Company Tzen Plantation Limited.
Pomio recently opened the first Palm Oil mill in the district and province.
This is just one of many developments taking place in the district and was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister, Leo Dion.
A very big occasion for the people of Pomio in East New Britain province, many turned up to witness the opening of East New Britain’s first Palm Oil Mill.
Tzen Plantation Limited a Malaysian company in the Open Bay of Pomio District commissioned its first Palm Oil Mill in the district and the first in East New Britain Province.
Tzen Plantation Limited Co-Chairman Datuk Lim Soon Foo said when the company first came into the area education, health and employment was a scarcity.
Taking this as a challenge the company set up the task of providing basic services and job opportunities for the people.
The company managed to plant more than 6,000 hectares of oil palm despite disagreements from the landowners.
Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion who was there to officiate the commemoration of the Oil Mill was amazed with the developments in the district.
Member for Pomio, Paul Tiensten, who was not able to attend the event expressed his gratitude through a spokesperson adding that much had to be done for the district.
The mill however can process up to 600 metric tonnes of fresh fruit branch of oil palm daily and up to 25 tonnes of oil per hour.
The oil tank can store up to 200,000 gallons of oil. Tzen Plantation Limited CEO, EK Tan, said the first shipment of oil will be in 3 months’ time.