Oil processing plant opens in Lira

Aug 26, 2009

THE multi-billion edible oil processing complex in Lira begins phase one of the solvent extraction plant mainly from sun-flower cake.

By Robert Okodia

THE multi-billion edible oil processing complex in Lira begins phase one of the solvent extraction plant mainly from sun-flower cake.

The general manager of Mount Meru Millers, a Tanzanian-based firm, RK Bhargava, said the plant, which is probably the largest in East and Central Africa, will process 100,000 tonnes of sun-flower cake annually.

“The first solvent extraction plant has started extracting oil out of sunflower cake and this will assist in processing over 100,000 tonnes of cakes which is mostly burnt by many local millers and industries,” he said.

Bhargava said: “We have started buying sunflower cakes from all parts of the country and outside Uganda as this is the only oil cake processor in East and Central Africa.”

He added that many people in Lira were using the sunflower cakes cheaply as animal feeds, but they have started extracting oil from it for consumption and export.

He said the serious roll-out for processing sun-flower, soya beans and ground nuts will kick off next year for thousands of acres of land in Lira and in the northern districts growing vegetable oil seeds.

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