Norway bank drops Halcyon Agri from investment list  

Oslo – Norges Bank, will not be investing in natural rubber supply group Halcyon Agri due to it being “responsible for serious environmental damage,” Norway’s central bank announced 18 March.

The decision to drop Halcyon from the government pension fund investment list had been recommended by Norway’s ‘council on ethics’, which saw “unacceptable risk” associated with the investment.

Haycolon Agri “is responsible for severe environmental damage as a result of its conversion of tropical forest into rubber plantations in Cameroon,” the council alleged in its recommendation last October.

In particular, the council highlighted Halcyon’s potential damages to the UNESCO world heritage site Dja Faunal Reserve, in southeastern Cameroon.

Norges Bank’s executive board had not conducted an independent assessment of all aspects of the recommendation but said it was satisfied that exclusion criteria were met.

In a written statement to ERJ, Halcyon Agir said it was reviewing Norges Bank’s "decision to exit" and was “disappointed that they are no longer one of our shareholders.”

“We welcome any constructive feedback on our operations,” said Halcyon, adding that it would provide further updates on this issue.

Halcyon Agri launched a sustainable natural rubber supply chain policy (SNRSCP) in November last year to address the concerns surrounding its activities of subsidiary in Cameroon, Sud-Cameroun Hevea SA.