Equatorial Palm Oil

Equatorial Palm Oil plc (EPO) is a palm oil company from London, United Kingdom. It is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Equatorial Palm Oil plc was founded in 2005.^[1] Effective December 20, 2013, KL-Kepong International Ltd, a wholly owned unit of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad acquired 63.181% interest in Equatorial Palm Oil PLC.^[2] Major brands including Kellogg's, Kraft Foods, Nestlé, Unilever, Procter & Gamble, and General Mills have been reported as direct or indirect consumers of KLK palm oil.

Activity in Liberia

It has a concession in Grand Bassa, Rivercess and Sinoe Counties in Liberia of 169,000 hectares, including 1000 hectares of plantation land in 2010.^[3] It holds interests in 34,398 hectares of land at Palm Bay area; 54,550 hectares of land at Butaw area; and 80,000 hectares of land in River Cess County.^[1] Hectares of its plantation area in Liberia were set on fire in the course of a land dispute with locals.^[4] Some locals have accused the company of not putting people originating in the area into top jobs.^[4] Residents have often accused the district’s representative, Hon. Robertson Siawaye and others politicians of plotting against them and siding with the company to take away their land.^[4] Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said that they can rest assure that there would be no further expansion by EPO. ^[5] EPO is accused of involvement in the arbitrary arrest and assault of Liberian community members who claim that they were resisting EPO's efforts to take their land. ^[6] In September 2013, officers from the EPO security team and the Liberian Police reportedly worked together to assault and beat Jogbahn community members who were peacefully protesting the company's operations.^[7]

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