Bobo-Dioulasso – The construction of the Bobo-Dioulasso tomato processing factory has reached a significant milestone, with a physical completion rate of 50%, officials announced during a site visit on Friday, February 23, 2024. The project, integral to Burkina Faso’s agricultural and industrial development, is expected to be delivered by June of this year.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the director of the cabinet of the president of the transition, the construction site was a hive of activity with workers engaged in various tasks from wall construction to sand moving and brick making, all contributing to the steady progress of the factory. Captain Médah’s visit underscored the government’s commitment to the project, aimed at bolstering the country’s tomato production capabilities.
The construction, being carried out by SOGEDIM/BTP, demonstrates a blend of technical expertise and labor dedication. “We have been working every day without rest since the start of the work,” shared an anonymous worker, emphasizing the team’s diligence. Oumarou Zebret, the site manager, reported a promising physical execution rate of around 50% against a time consumed of 39%, a ratio that suggests the project is ahead of schedule.
Despite the satisfactory progress, Captain Médah expressed a desire to expedite the work to make the factory operational as soon as possible. The comprehensive tour included inspections of the storage stores for finished products and raw materials, administrative block, canteen area, changing rooms, infirmary, and maintenance workshop.
Launched five months ago, on September 23, 2023, the construction is a key part of the Community Entrepreneurship Program through popular shareholding, led by the Agency for the Promotion of Community Entrepreneurship (APEC). APEC coordinator Karim Traoré assured that all stakeholders are committed to completing the construction by the end of June 2024. He also highlighted that equipment orders have been placed, with shipments expected to begin within three to four weeks, followed by 45 days of transportation and three weeks of installation.
The factory, which is financed as part of the community entrepreneurship program and has a budget of five billion CFA francs, is designed to produce five tonnes of tomatoes per hour. Traoré noted that no significant difficulties have been encountered to date, and with a large workforce and high-volume drilling for water supply on site, the project is on track to meet its July 2024 operational goal.