TEMDO to deliver first local mini sugar plant

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA Engineering and Manufacturing Design Organisation (TEMDO) has marked a major milestone in industrial journey, especially with the creation of its first locally designed sugar processing plant, a game-changing innovation set to uplift small-scale sugar producers.

This breakthrough plant not only showcases the country’s growing engineering and manufacturing capabilities, but also offers an affordable, efficient solution tailored to the needs of smallholder farmers.

By enabling more accessible sugar processing at the local level, TEMDO’s innovation is expected to reduce reliance on costly imports, create jobs and stimulate rural economies, fostering sustainable growth within the agro-industrial sector.

The TEMDO Director General, Prof Fredrick Kahimba told ‘Daily News’ on Wednesday that the organisation has already received orders from six customers for the mini sugar plant.

The first to be delivered in October, valued at 1.85bn/.

ALSO READ: Kilombero Sugar urges growers to maximise on K4 project

“We currently have the capacity to produce two to three units per year. With six confirmed orders, we expect to fulfil all of them within two years,” said Prof Kahimba.

The plant, with a capacity to crush 200 tonnes of sugarcane and produce up to 20 tonnes of sugar daily, requires supporting infrastructure costing around 1.2bn/- to successfully install and operate the machinery, including land preparation, buildings, power and water systems.

He further explained that the locally made plant offers significant cost savings compared to imported equipment, which can range between 4.0 and 5.0bn/- for similar capacity.

“Our model is far more affordable and suitable for our local environment. It also gives entrepreneurs faster access to technical support and spare parts, since everything is designed and built domestically,” he said. TEMDO’s successful design and manufacture of the mini sugar plant is the result of intensive research and development carried out by domestic engineers and technicians.

It also aligns with the government’s goal of increasing sugar production to meet growing domestic demand and reduce reliance on imports. Prof Kahimba also said that TEMDO sees growing opportunities in the East African market, particularly in neighbouring countries like Burundi and South Sudan.

“We want to make TEMDO a hub for agro-processing solutions across the region,” he said.

The organisation, which falls under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, has been instrumental in advancing technological solutions tailored for local industries, particularly in agriculture, mining and food processing.

Recently during a stakeholders’ forum organised by the Tanzania Society of Sugarcane Technologists (TSSCT), the Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) Director General, Prof Kenneth Bengesi, said that sugar production has increased from 295,000 to 460,000 tonnes over the past seven to eight years.

This growth has been driven by favourable investment conditions, the expansion of sugar factories and plantations and fertiliser subsidies for farmers.

“The government’s goal is not only to meet domestic sugar needs but also to produce a surplus for export, thereby earning foreign currency to support social and economic development,” Prof Bengesi said.