Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has outlined plans to transform Kenya's sugar factories into major electricity producers using bagasse waste. The initiative aims to boost the national grid while creating new revenue for the sector.
At West Valley Sugar Company, the cogeneration system now produces five megawatts of electricity from roughly thirty per cent of available bagasse. If used at full capacity, output could reach fifteen megawatts.
Kagwe said, "West Valley is producing five megawatts of electricity with only a fraction of its bagasse. If the factory operated at full capacity, it could generate up to fifteen megawatts." He urged Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi to speed up frameworks allowing mills to sell surplus power to the national grid.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had earlier stressed the government's focus on agricultural value addition and ethanol production. Kenya is also expanding biofuel output to cut reliance on imported fuel, with sugar production rising twenty-two per cent after factories were leased.
