Kakira Sugar Limited for US$65m Expansion

Oct 01, 2012

Kakira Sugar Limited (KSL) is to invest US65m that will lead to an increase in sugar production and power generation, Mayur Madhvani, one of the joint managing directors, has revealed.


By Donald Kiirya
    
Kakira Sugar Limited (KSL) is to invest US$65m that will lead to an increase in sugar production and power generation, Mayur Madhvani, one of the joint managing directors, has revealed.

Mayur revealed during a press conference at the Kakira-based factory on Friday.

“With the expansion, the factory will be able to crush 2m tons of cane per annum,” he said.

“1.40m tons of cane will come from out grower farmers and the balance of 600,000 tones will come from the company’s own nucleus estate, and produce 180,000 tons of sugar per annum,” Mayur said.
 
Mayur added that with the increase in the crushing capacity, there will be more sugar cane waste, known as baggasse from which electricity is generated.
 
“KSL, which is currently generating 22MW of power and feeding 14MW to the national grid, will be able to increase power generation to 52MW, of which 32MW will be exported to the national grid on a regular basis,” Mayur explained.
 
He said that the expansion, which includes installation of turbines, alternators and construction of a new boiler, is well underway and will be complete by June 2013.

“Jinja town, including industries, consumes around 18MW of power per day basing on reliable sources,” he said.

“Kakira will be giving 32MWs so we will be giving more than Jinja, Kamuli and Iganga.”

“The 52MW that will be generated will be equivalent to power generated by one turbine at the old dam,” he said.

He said that in the future KSL will be producing ethanol from molasses that can be blended with fuel to run vehicles and machines.

“Producing ethanol from molasses is not something that is new, it is being done elsewhere in the world, but a few like KSL want to produce renewable energy for the next generation and this is one of our plans.

“Mayur further said ethanol can be used to make purified spirits like rum, vodka among others and revealed that KSL will soon start making a spirit to be named Kakira Gold.
 
KSL currently employs 8000 people, who along with their families benefit from the operations of the sugar complex.
 
There are also about 8,500 registered farmers who supply over 1m tons of cane per year to the factory and KSL provides full assistance and support to independent out grower farmers, including supply of seed cane and agro-chemicals, advice on modern agricultural practices and techniques.  

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