Biofuel firms from Britain, Netherlands, the United States, Sweden, Japan, Canada and Germany among others are flocking to Africa to secure land. The British firm Sun Biofuels and the Norwegian firm, Biofuel Africa have already secured hundreds of thousands of acres.

The argument beyond making energy is that these companies can help build infrastructure in Africa, that such foreign investments can only help the country. But consider this: The same was said about coffee plantations several decades ago and about mining in the 1990s. Companies have built their plantations and mined throughout Africa without positively affecting impoverished areas.

Biofuel Africa took land clearing and usage rights from a village chief who doesn't know how to write. He was asked for his thumb print, which sealed the deal. Large, wealthy companies are paying a low prices for land-- €450,000 for 9,000 hectares (22,230 acres) in one case. Worse, these companies often leave residents in insecure conditions.

One Swedish company, Sekab, pushed residents from their wetland home along the Rufiji River in order to plant sugarcane. This area is one of the only sources of drinking water in the area for thousands of people, especially in the dry season. Food prices continute to rise as promises are being made by PR firms and government entities. But history shows that promises of economic wealth rarely pan out.

Can you say colonization?

Source: Spiegel International

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