Press Release
Recent visit by Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources officialsTo see a recent pictorial of a visit by Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources officials, NEMA officials and various stakeholders to the KISCOL headquarters, click here to visit the Ministry website.
Mauritius sugar firm takes stake in new Kenya millFri Sep 9, 2011 A Leading Mauritian sugar producer Omnicane plans to start construction of a $180 million sugar factory in Kenya by October, just as the east African country faces a shortage of the sweetener which has more than doubled in price recently. Kenyans consume about 750,000 tonnes of sugar a year, according to the Kenya Sugar Research Foundation, but the region's biggest economy only produces 500,000 tonnes a year. Omnicane has acquired a 20 percent stake in the joint venture with Kenya's Kwale International Sugar Company. "Construction of the factory will begin by end of October and we will be crushing 3,000 tonnes of cane per day," Hashil Kotecha, a director of Kwale told Reuters, adding that would make it the third biggest miller in Kenya. "We expect the first batch of sugar next year in October." Kenya's Mumias Sugar Company is the country's largest miller, processing over 8,000 tonnes of cane per day and controlling about 60 percent of the market. Kotecha said 50 percent of the $180 million financing of the mill was raised through debt while equity from both foreign and local investors made up the rest. One economist at the government-run sugar research foundation, who declined to give his name, said the arrival of the new player would force others to improve efficiency, helping to boost output down the line. Two other new factories were expected to begin producing sugar this year, in addition to the nine mills already operational. Reporting by Beatrice Gachenge; editing by Keiron Henderson Source: Reuters Africa |
Sh16bn Ramisi sugar plant revival slated for July 2012Author: NATION CORRESPONDENT Posted Tuesday, March 15 2011 Full revival of the Kwale International Sugar Company Limited (KISCOL) is expected to kick off in July and will cost some Sh16 billion. The firm known as Ramisi sugar factory collapsed in the 1980s. Head of agriculture Patrick Chebosi said a contractor was expected on the ground soon to prepare for launch of the building to house the factory with a crushing capacity of 3,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day. When the factory is fully operational, it will produce 90,000 tonnes of sugar per year, 30,000 litres of ethanol per day and 18MW of electricity. Mr Chebosi said the company will install a drip-irrigation system in May. At least 700 registered outgrowers are to produce sugarcane on 2,000 hectares of land while the company will occupy 4,500 hectares. “The revival of the sugar project is progressing well as we expect the construction of the plant to start in July,” he said. Kenya Sugar Board head of agriculture Fredrick Kebeney said when the factory commences operations, it would help reduce the country’s sugar deficit of 200,000 tonnes a year. Source: The Daily Nation Sugar board plans new cane growing zonesBy ALLAN ODHIAMBO Tuesday, 6 March 2012 The project is also designed to rely on a nucleus estate that is expected to take up the bulk of the 16,000 hectares. Most millers in Kenya rely on small scale out-grower farmers for supplies, a situation that has worked against efficiency. Omnicane is currently constructing a Sh16 billion integrated sugar project at the coast near Kwale with partners under the flagship of Kwale International Sugar Company Limited (KISCOL). Kenya currently has an installed factory crashing capacity of 30,109 tonnes of cane per day (TCD), but expects an additional 3,000TCD when the factory being constructed near by Omnicane and Kiscol commences operations in April 2013 Source: businessdailyafrica.com |
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