SUHUMA TIMBER COMPANY LIMITED
At the time Suhuma Timber Company (STCL) acquired Gliksten West Africa Limited under the divestiture programme, the entire production activities of the latter were at a standstill with machinery and structure in a very deplorable state.

A rehabilitation exercise was immediately embarked upon with the following objectives; achieving set production targets, acquiring Kiln Drying Facilities, adding value to products and embarking on a sustainable re-afforestation programme.

These objectives were premised on the thinking that good management of forest reserves is a vital prerequisite for continuous operation. Good management of resources would lead to better production of logs and the use of lesser species which abound in the reserves. Thus, feasibility studies were conducted and a depleted Forest Reserve acquired for an afforestation programme which has boosted the company's capacity to sustain long term production.

Management of STCL also decided to position to take advantage to government efforts to stimulate downstream processing of timber by planning to minimize and to reduce production waste. Plans were immediately initiated to acquire technical capacity to produce mouldings, finger jointing doors, laminating and other furniture component to reduce the volume of export of lumber which presently attracts a 10 per cent government levy.

To achieve these objectives STCL have to date invested some US$10m in its operations. Specifically, the company has acquired the Kiln Drying Facility which has boosted income from the sale of export lumber by about 30% as well as saving the 10 percent export levy.Additionally, the company has imported two complete peeling lines with the first one commencing production in May 2004 with the second expected to be operational by June this year. This will enable STCL process about 50 percent of standing trees in both the forest and off-reserve areas that are suitable for peeling.

Currently the company offers employment to about 600 workers. Taxes paid to government have increased steadily over the years.

From 2000 to the end of 2003, STCL has paid almost ¢8.6 billion paid to the Forestry Service Division for Stumpage. The company has also paid a total of ¢430 million into its Social Responsibility Fund for the benefit of its immediate communities.