Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL), located in Kidatu in Tanzania’s Morogoro Region, is the largest sugar producer in the country, operating under the brand name “Bwana Sukari.” The company is majority-owned by Illovo Sugar Africa (75%), with the remaining 25% held by the Government of Tanzania. KSCL manages two main estates—Msolwa and Ruembe—positioned on either side of the Great Ruaha River.
It cultivates sugarcane on approximately 26,000 hectares, with about 10,000 hectares owned by the company and the remaining 16,000 hectares managed by independent outgrower farmers. Each year, the company processes around 600,000 tonnes of sugarcane, producing approximately 126,000 tonnes of sugar. In addition to sugar, KSCL also produces potable alcohol and generates renewable electricity from bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane.
Currently, Kilombero Sugar is undergoing a major expansion through its new K4 sugar factory project. This initiative aims to more than double the company’s annual sugar production capacity to 271,000 tonnes by June 2025, supporting Tanzania’s goal of sugar self-sufficiency.
The expansion, valued at over Tsh 730 billion, will also increase sugarcane sourcing from outgrower farmers to 1.5–1.7 million tonnes per year and double the number of participating growers to as many as 16,000. This is expected to significantly raise rural incomes and create thousands of new jobs.
Additionally, the upgraded facility will add 10 MW of electricity to the national grid, expand packaging capabilities, and shorten the sugarcane processing season, positioning KSCL as a vital engine of economic growth in the Kilombero Valley.
