By Chester Robards Senior Business Reporter

Copyright thenassauguardian

Morton Bahamas Limited, a solar salt production facility on Great Inagua, is set to be acquired by Bahamas-based Lusca Group, with the group maintaining a long-term supply agreement with Morton Salt USA, Lusca said in a statement about the acquisition released yesterday.

Lusca said its subsidiary, Grand Bahama Salt Company Ltd., will acquire 100 percent of the shares of Morton Bahamas Limited, which will be rebranded and undergo upgrades.

The Lusca Group said the acquisition remains subject to regulatory approvals.

“The facility, the second-largest solar salt operation in North America, positions The Bahamas as a leading source of high-quality solar salt for international markets,” the statement said.

“Lusca Group will also enter into a long-term supply agreement with Morton Salt USA, securing Morton’s role as an anchor client and ensuring continuity of production and export from Inagua.”

Salt production has been the bread and butter for Great Inagua for some time, and Director of Lusca Group Richard Muckle said in the statement that the company will continue to operate as good partners for the island.

“Salt has been part of Inagua’s identity for generations, and we fully understand the history and importance of this business to the island,” said Muckle.

“By rebranding and investing in the facility, we aim to honor that legacy while creating sustainable value for both our customers and the local community.”

The statement said when the sale is complete, the group plans to invest heavily in upgrades to the facility’s operations, improve its efficiency, and expand the plant’s production capacity.

Lusca said it will also invest in upgrading the salt quality on the island.

Jennifer Brown, secretary general of the Bahamas Industrial Manufacturers and Allied Workers Union (BIMAWU), which represents unionized Morton Salt workers, told Guardian Business yesterday that they only recently heard of the plan for the acquisition and did not have detailed information on it.

The Lusca statement said the company will also invest in other businesses on Great Inagua and in the local community.

“In parallel, Lusca Group is preparing a broader island-wide development plan, identifying further opportunities to support Inagua’s long-term growth and resilience,” the statement said.

“This program, developed in close partnership with stakeholders, will be presented to the government of The Bahamas in due course.”

The statement explains that the Lusca Group “is a privately owned industrial investment holding company with offices in The Bahamas and Europe”.