Mukwano to increase oil production

By Alex Ocen

MUKWANO Group of Companies is to increase oil production capacity by 200%, the group’s managing director, Alykhan Karmali, has said.

Apart from the sunflower, the company will also increase production of cotton, simsim and soya beans as well as the production of animal feeds. A refinery will also be constructed in Lira.

He said the plant in Lira was part of a sh206b expansion project for oil production.

Karmali added that in the next 12 months, the oil extraction plant in Lira would handle a bigger capacity than the one in Kampala, which is handling 200 tonnes per day.

During the company’s end of year party at Grand Pacific Hotel, Lira, he said the plant would help farmers gain more profit and improve their household income.

Karmali said the first phase of the expansion programme had been completed successfully after construction of an oil-extraction plant with a capacity of 100 tonnes per day.
“We are moving to phase two and then phase three. “

He added that Mukwano has been supporting farmers to grow the Pan 7351 hybrid sunflower in Lango sub-region and part of Masindi by providing seeds at subsidised prices and providing technical services.

Karmali said Mukwano would continue supporting the farmers, especially during this period when the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are returning to their homes to enable them earn decent household income.