Uganda: Energy self-sufficiency for a sugar company

With a market share close to 20% and an annual production of 60,000 tons, SCOUL is the third largest sugar operator in Uganda. This subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Mehta was set up in 1924. It is the first sugar company to be certified ISO 9001 in Uganda. It is also certified ISO 14001 for its good environmental management.

Proparco’s loan will help SCOUL improve its agricultural and industrial performance. The company aims to double its production capacity to a level of 100,000 tons a year. The investment program comprises the renewal of industrial assets, the modernization of its agricultural techniques (use of better inputs), the strengthening of its energy cogeneration activities, technical assistance for smallholder planters, and the acquisition of new land in order to extend plantations.

By increasing SCOUL’s production capacity, this project will contribute to making Uganda’s sugar supply self-sufficient on its domestic market. It will create some 1,500 jobs and support the activities of hundreds of new smallholder planters. The development of its bagasse cogeneration activities will allow it to achieve energy self-sufficiency in its plants.