Building for the Future

BRE to Construct US$90M Technical/ Vocational Training Center in Buchannan

David B. Kolleh, david.kolleh@frontpageafricaonline.com, (231 631 0032)

Buchanan Renewable Energy (BRE), Liberia’s first biomass company currently operating in  Buchannan Grand Bassa County, on Saturday broke grounds for the construction of a US$90 million technical/ vocational training center in that part of the country.

Though, the center will be hosting its equipment according to company officials, it will also provide technical training for residents of the Port city, aimed at making them prepared for the job market and also increasing their chances of future employment with the company.

Making remarks at the ceremony, the general manager of BRE Mr. Liam Hickey said the company was glad for the land being leased to them. He told the gathering of government and local county officials that the land will create new opportunities for the youthful population of the county.

Mr. Hickey said his company was taking into consideration securing the future of the people of Buchanan by exploring all means possible, which includes creating empowerment such as the construction of a vocational training center for Liberians.

“Let me assure you Chiefs,  when you raised that particular issue, that this facilities when it is built will be used very, very productively by BR, not only will it be a critical facility for our fleet of trucks, our equipment to be kept working to support our business,  but it will also be a vocational training center, which we will collaborate with Doctor Zangar and the Community college, so that we can train the mechanics, the engineers and all the professionals that we need to develop and grow our business.” Mr. Hickey said.

He also promised that during the construction of the facility his company will make use of the locally acquired materials and will also get the local residents involved by being hired by his company for the construction of the complex.

For his part VP Boakai praised Buchanan Renewables for the level of contribution it has made in transforming Liberia over the past years of its stay in the country, evident by the number of Liberians that have gotten employed by the company.

“BR is a partner Liberia and we as a government feel confident to work with you. We hope that this kind of partnership will continue as we move to make Liberia a postwar success story.” VP Boakai said further.

At the same time amidst controversies over whether or not the company had received the full support of the people of Buchannan, the traditional council of Buchannan told the company that they were in full support of the work it was about to undertake in the area because it was assuring the people of the area especially their children about a great future.

Speaking through an interpreter, a representative of the council of elders said they were pleased to give their blessings to the company because according to him, for decades there has been nothing like infrastructural development in the area, therefore the construction of a vocational training center for the people of Buchannan was worth commending.