In Other African Countries

Kabuye Sugar Works, Rwanda

In 1997, the Madhvani Group acquired Rwanda's only sugar complex - under the Government's privatisation programme. This provides the opportunity to expand in one of the Group's  core areas as well as a window of future entry into the lucrative markets of the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo / Zaire.

The Kabuye sugar factory was rehabilitated to a capacity of 200 TCD in phase I, and thereafter expanded to 600 TCD in phases. The unit employs 400 persons in the factory and about 5,000 agricultural workers. It currently produces around 12,000 tons of sugar per year.

The old nucleus estate of 600 Ha at Kabuye has been fully redeveloped and replanted, after which the company developed and planted a further area of 1,600 Ha. The Government also allocated an additional area of almost 1,000 ha to augment the nucleus estate. Unfortunately, as there is inadequate river bank protection in Rwanda, much of this area is prone to flooding and the company's nucleus estate can only use 1,700 Ha for cane cultivation.

At present the company accepts cane supplied by 850 outgrowers, who have more than 2,400 Ha under cane cultivation. In the long term, it is envisaged that over 1,500 outgrower farmers with more than 3,000 Ha under cultivation will supply the cane factory.

A 15 TPH boiler was installed in 2006 together with an 835 kW steam turbo-alternator. Consequently, the factory now generates over 70% of its electricity requirements, significantly reducing the need to purchase expensive power from the national utility - Electrogaz. The Kabuye plant has been expanded further to 600 TCD in 2007 by installing additional equipment in the boiling house: a clarifier, an evaporator, 2 juice heaters, 2 vacuum pans, 2 crystallizers, 2 centrifugals, etc. The increased production will reduce Rwanda's need for imports.

New Sugar Complex in Southern Sudan - Mongala Sugar Works

The Madhvani Group was invited by the Government of Southern Sudan [GOSS] to explore the possibility of establishing a sugar complex in Southern Sudan.  A team of senior agricultural and technical experts from Kakira Sugar Works (1985) Limited visited various potential sites for cultivation of sugarcane and establishment of a sugar factory in Southern Sudan.

Based on our team’s preliminary findings, it is envisaged that the Mongala District would be best suited for sugarcane cultivation and sugar manufacturing – considering land, climate, water availability, etc.

The Madhvani Group’s plan for Mongala Sugar Works includes the following :

• The Nucleus Estate (of around 45,000 hectares) allocated to the Sugar Company, which would not only cultivate sugarcane for supply to the Company-owned sugar factory but also develop and grow seed-cane in controlled conditions in a nursery for use by the Company as well as by sugarcane outgrower farmers. This land would also be used for development of alternative for food as well as bio-fuels

  Outgrower Farms (of around 15,000 hectares of which 9,000 hectares will be under cane after phased development).

  The new Sugar Company would not only supply seed-cane to these Outgrower Farmers, but would also provide complete extension services, which will include advice on land suitability, land development, land preparation, planting techniques, maintenance practices, use of agro-chemicals (fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides), harvesting, land/soil improvement and other crop husbandry practices.

  The Company would also arrange for mechanized agricultural equipment for land development and preparation.

• The sugar factory would be developed in phases, starting with a capacity of 3,500 Tons Cane per Day [TCD], which would subsequently be expanded to 5,000 TCD and then to 10,000 TCD. In the first phase, this factory would work 8 months of the year (24h/d) to process 840,000 tons of sugarcane (including 210,000 tons from outgrowers) to produce around 80,000 tons of sugar and 29,000 tons of molasses per year. In subsequent phases, the expanded factory would steadily increase its sugarcane cultivation from the nucleus estate as well as from outgrowers to produce over 200,000 tons of sugar each year.

• The sugar factory will use modern technology and high-pressure boilers, to generate adequate electricity to not only meet its own in-house needs, but also for supply to the grid for use by the population of the adjacent area.

• The sugar company would also develop the required infrastructure for its operations.  This would include offices; stores for consumables; workshops for factory mechanical and electrical equipment as well as for agricultural equipment; staff housing; workers camps; schools for all employees; a central hospital (as well as a mobile health unit); staff recreational facilities; etc. Development of a sugar complex requires development of roads in the Outgrower area, which benefit the entire community who grow food and other crops in addition to sugarcane.

  In addition, the normal social infrastructure (hospitals/medical centres, schools, petrol stations, retail shops, etc.) would be developed in the surrounding areas.

The initial estimate of the capital cost for the first phase of such a project is around US$ 90 million with 30% shareholding by GOSS.

Madhvani Group and GOSS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a new sugar complex in December 2009.  The demarcation and allocation of the land to the company will be done by GOSS in the first quarter of 2010-11.

The project will have immense socio-economic impact - substantial agricultural potential for small farmers as well as for industrial employment, as well as the major components of development of social infrastructure, which would enable poverty alleviation and socio-economic development. 

Mara Leisure Camp, Kenya

Mara Leisure Camp is a boutique camp comprising of 22 luxury tents and 3 cottages located on the edge of Mara Game Reserve. 

The Masai Mara National Reserve which is comprised of huge savannahs of golden grasslands and the rift valley escarpment is famous for Wildebeest migrations as well as frequent sightings of Lion, Cheetah and Rhino.

The Mara Leisure Camp is just outside the boundary of the Masai Mara National Reserve and is situated on the north bank of the Talek River and boasts 400 metres of river frontage. By road from Nairobi it is four and a half hours or 255kms; by air one hour from Wilson Airport, Nairobi to Ol Kiombo airstrip and forty-five minutes drive from the airstrip to the camp.

The camp comprises of 13 Nyati Standard Tents, 9 Jumbo Tents and 3 Chui Family Cottages and also boasts a swimming pool, bar, restaurant, gift shop and conference facilities.