Burning Rubber
Channel: SOMO Research
Date: 2011-11-08

Several Liberian farmers and charcoal producers experience harmful effects of the operations of Buchanan Renewables, a company that produces biomass of which Swedish electricity giant Vattenfall is part owner. This is the conclusion of a new report entitled "Burning Rubber", by SOMO and Green Advocates. The report describes how the company, which presents itself as a highly sustainable venture, has a negative impact on the livelihoods of a number of smallholder farmers, has not taken adequate measures to improve the energy situation in Liberia, and has a corporate structure which can be optimally used to avoid paying taxes in Liberia.