Tongaat Hulett, a leading sugar producer, is set to build a 10 MW solar power plant to power its two mills in a daring step to increase energy self-sufficiency and minimize its carbon footprint.
This strategic initiative will not only reduce the company’s reliance on grid power, but will also significantly reduce operating costs. It will generate enough clean energy to power the entire operations of both mills, ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of sugar for local and international markets.
This move is consistent with Tongaat Hulett’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe CEO Tendai Masawi told The Environment on the sideline of a media tour in Chiredzi last Friday that, “We sit in a region where there is a lot of sunshine, and we are partnering with a company on BOT arrangements. That project is already at an advanced stage, we have already looked at the memorandum for agreement, and we have already discussed the pros and cons and the funding arrangement,” Masawi said.
Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe’s businesses include Hippo Valley Estates and Triangle Limited, which have a combined capacity of 4.8 million tonnes of cane per year and produces 600 000t of raw sugar. Tongaat produced 375,000t from its two mills last year, and the business plans to raise sugar output by 7% this year for the fiscal year ending March 2025, following record lows last year.
The company collaborates with a network of 1,200 farmers, supplying fertilizers, herbicides, and technical assistance to supplement sugar cane production. Meanwhile, Tongaat Hulett has revealed that it has made substantial progress in constructing its 4,000-hectare sugar project, with 2 700ha of virgin land cleared and ripped since the program inception.
