Kilombero Sugar Company has said the 744bn/- worth expansion project is set for completion by June next year, reported local media.
Company’s Corporate Affairs Director Mr Derick Stanley said here yesterday that once operational, it will boost the factory’s sugar production capacity from 126,000 tonnes to 271,000 tonnes annually.
“Its completion will significantly reduce the country’s sugar gap, eliminating the need for sugar imports,” he said, noting that President Samia Suluhu Hassan expects to lay the project’s foundation stone on Sunday.
The Kilombero Sugar Company is the largest sugar producer in the country where the Tanzanian government holds 25 per cent of the shares while Illovo Sugar Africa holds 75 per cent of the shareholding.
He added that the completion of the project dubbed K4 factory expansion aligns with the government’s efforts to achieve sugar self-sufficiency.
“The K4 factory expansion is the largest and most modern sugar production facility in East Africa, which was started two years ago,” he said.
Mr Stanley emphasised the economic impact, highlighting that the project will increase annual income of Kilombero Cane growers from 75bn/- to approximately 165bn/-.
Also, the number of farmers is also expected to double from 8,000 to around 16,000.
On his part, Mr Victor Byemelwa, Communications and Stakeholder Relations Manager at Kilombero Sugar Company said the foundation stone-laying is the historic event that will enhance farmers’ livelihoods through increased sugarcane production.
The Company’s Business Affairs Manager Willa Haonga encouraged women to seize opportunities presented by the project.
