This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
July 2, 2020 - Mumias Sugar Company has taken a significant step towards reviving its operations by procuring vital equipment needed to operationalise sugar milling processes at the factory.
The receiver manager, Mr Ponangipalli Venkata Ramana Rao, confirmed that the rotors will be shipped to the country from a supplier in South Africa before the end of this month.
According to Mr Rao, the procurement of the equipment was delayed due to the restrictions put in place following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the challenges, the miller has already carried out an inspection of the sugar milling equipment at the factory, and engineers involved in the work said the mills were in good working condition.
Mr Rao expressed optimism that the miller will start sugar milling operations in September after the rotors have been installed and a test run of the mills is performed.
However, the miller is currently involved in ethanol production, but operations are limping due to a shortage of molasses, a byproduct of sugar milling process.
Mr Rao attributed the shortage of molasses to the heavy rains in the region, which have affected sugar milling operations.
As a result, the miller is sourcing molasses from other sugar factories, including Busia Sugar Factory, Butali Sugar Mills, Nzoia Sugar Company, and Muhoroni Sugar Company in Kisumu County.
Mr John Shiundu, the acting Human Resource manager, said the miller was able to get a supply of 300 tonnes of molasses from the sugar millers.
On a separate note, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa have proposed that the government waive debts owed by financially struggling millers, including Mumias Sugar Company and Nzoia Sugar Company.
Once the debts are waived, the next move would be to push for privatization of the state-owned sugar factories as part of a strategy to turn around their fortunes.
