By Zoila Palma: A new soybean oil refinery in Spanish Lookout is expected to create additional employment opportunities and strengthen Belize’s manufacturing sector as Green Valley Oil officially opened its facility today.
The refinery is an investment by Quality Feed Mill and forms part of efforts to expand local agricultural processing. The project involved construction of the facility and installation of specialized processing and packaging equipment, with the building completed in 2024 and equipment installation finished in late 2025.
Between 10 and 15 workers are currently employed at the plant, according to information provided for the project.
Green Valley Oil noted that number is expected to increase to between 35 and 40 full-time employees when the refinery reaches full production capacity. During construction and installation, an average of 30 people worked on the project.
The facility is designed to process approximately 12,000 litres of oil daily and is expected to meet around 60% of Belize’s cooking oil demand at full capacity.
Beyond employment, the investment is intended to strengthen local manufacturing by converting crude soybean oil into a finished product for consumers.
Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture Hugh O’Brien commended CARDI, local farmers, and the Spanish Lookout community on the milestone. He also highlighted the history of soybean production in Belize and the contributions of successive governments, agriculture ministers, and development partners to the industry’s growth.
Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson said the new refinery is intended to add value to locally produced soybeans by processing the oil in Belize. The initiative is expected to create opportunities to reduce reliance on imported cooking oil and strengthen the national economy.
Ferguson added that other CARICOM countries have expressed interest in purchasing Belizean soybean oil, noting that Belize is self-sufficient in soybean production.
As Green Valley Oil prepares to reach supermarket shelves across Belize, Ferguson said the Ministry of Agriculture will seek Cabinet approval for an increase in tariffs on imported cooking oil, a move intended to support the development of the local industry.
The post Green Valley Oil investment expected to boost jobs and manufacturing in Spanish Lookout appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: A new soybean oil refinery in Spanish Lookout is expected to create additional employment opportunities and strengthen Belize’s manufacturing sector as Green Valley Oil officially opened its facility today. The refinery is an investment by Quality Feed Mill and forms part of efforts to expand local agricultural processing. The project involved construction
The post Green Valley Oil investment expected to boost jobs and manufacturing in Spanish Lookout appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
