The Mumias Sugar Company. FILE PHOTO | NMG The management of troubled Mumias Sugar Company on Monday opted to switch to diesel generators to sustain operations after Kenya Power disconnected electricity supply over a Sh2 billion debt.
Kenya Power disconnected the supply on Saturday as the miller was preparing to start ethanol production while finalising plans to resume cane milling.
An official said that 3,000 litres of diesel had been delivered to the factory and engineers were busy making preparations to start ethanol production. The cash strapped miller hopes to spent the money generated from ethanol to restart milling.
Earlier plans to restart milling were jolted after transporters declined to ferry cane from farms citing the high cost of fuel. Acting chief executive Patrick Chebosi said the only option left to the miller was to shift to diesel generators.
He said ethanol production was expected to start yesterday. "We have managed to get substantial amounts of molasses from other millers to start us off. Our biggest challenge is the power hitch but we will carry on with the plan despite the high cost," said Mr Chebosi.
