USA — Greenfield, an agricultural infrastructure powerhouse, has officially cancelled its US$800 million grain export facility project in Wallace, Louisiana, citing prolonged delays in the permitting process as the primary reason.
The decision marks a significant turn in a project that had been eagerly anticipated but ultimately faced insurmountable obstacles.
The company, which announced the halt via a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on August 7, has expressed deep frustration over the three-year wait for permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Typically, similar projects navigate the permitting process in about six months. Greenfield Louisiana, however, claimed it faced continual delays despite their best efforts to expedite the process.
“We did everything in our power to keep this project on track because we believe in this community. But sadly, we are no closer to a resolution than we were when we began this process,” the statement read.
The proposed 248-acre facility was to include 36 grain silos and provide employment for 60 people, contributing to various aspects of grain handling including barge, dock, rail, truck, storage, processing, and elevator operations.
The terminal aimed to facilitate the movement of 11 million tonnes of wheat, corn, and soybeans annually, representing a significant boost to the region’s agricultural logistics and economy.
The project faced significant opposition due to its location between the historic Black community of Wallace and Whitney Plantation, a prominent tourist site dedicated to the history of enslaved people.
The owners of Whitney Plantation had filed a lawsuit against the parish to block the construction, citing environmental concerns related to the facility’s impact on the local ecosystem.
Greenfield Louisiana’s statement criticized the Army Corps of Engineers for allegedly prioritizing external interests over local concerns.
“The Army Corps of Engineers has chosen to repeatedly delay this project by catering to special interests, many of which are out-of-state groups, when it should have been listening to local voices here on the West Bank,” the company contended.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
