Speciality oils and fats business Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) has announced the opening of its shea butter processing facility in Tema, Ghana.

With the opening of the new plant, the company aims to meet the increasing demand for shea in the global market.

It is a fully automated solvent fractionation plant that can process raw shea butter made from locally collected and crushed shea nuts into shea olein and shea stearin.

Shea stearin is further processed at the company’s facilities in the Netherlands, Malaysia, Canada and the US for producing ingredients that can be used in both food and non-food applications.

BLC president Aaron Buettner said: “Our latest investment in Ghana plays a critical role in strengthening BLC’s global infrastructure for processing and supplying high-quality shea products to our customers around the world while also bolstering the entire ecosystem of regional crushers and local shea collectors in the West African region.

“The facility allows us to meaningfully support and empower the local shea communities through the transfer of knowledge of value-adding processes and by investing in local skills development.

“We are proud to join forces with local communities to help build and advance the African shea industry together.”

It is said to be BLC’s first shea butter processing facility in Ghana and the largest facility of its kind in Africa.

In addition to the opening of its new facility, the company has launched its new ‘wher Life Grows’ campaign through which it aims to develop a resilient and sustainable shea supply chain in Africa.

BLC West Africa general manager Antoine Turpin said: “Currently, the facility provides employment to 73 people from mostly the local community and its strategic location not only allows for a more efficient production process, but it also delivers on BLC’s commitment to building a more sustainable supply chain for shea.”

In March 2018, Bunge acquired a 70% ownership interest in the Netherlands-based oils and fats producing firm IOI Loders Croklaan (Loders) from IOI Corporation Berhad (IOI).