On Monday the plantation arm of Sime Darby Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation (SDP), completed its acquisition of Papua New Guinea New Britain Palm Oil Ltd. (NBPOL). The acquisition adds 135,000 hectares of land to SDP’s holdings, bringing its global land area to nearly one million hectares across five countries. NBPOL will also expand SDP’s reach in both Papua New Guinea and create opportunities for growth in downstream operations in Europe through the synergy of the two company’s refineries in Liverpool and the Netherlands. The fit is a natural one, as SDP is a founding member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and NBPOL has a strong sustainability record. The companies’ combined capacities will produce 26% of global Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.
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