São Paulo – Sudan inaugurated on Wednesday (10) its first ethanol mill in Africa, 250 kilometres away from country capital Khratoum. The enterprise belongs to Kenana Sugar Company, which has as its shareholders the governments of Sudan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, as well as banks and other organisations headquartered in the Arab countries and Japan. According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, production in the first phase should be totally turned to the European Union.
The mill was built by the Brazilian Dedini Indústria de Base, using inputs made in Brazil. Investment in purchase of equipment and machinery was 15 million euros, according to Alaby. The plant, which is already in operation, has daily production of 200,000 litres of alcohol. He added that there are currently 10 projects for construction of new alcohol and sugar mills, and they should have participation of Brazilian companies.
Inauguration, according to the secretary general, was a matter of national prominence, as it brought together thousands of people, among them directors and employees of Kenana, residents of the surrounding areas and authorities like the president of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir, as well as ministers of state and the former ambassador of Sudan to Brazil, Rahamtallah Mohamed Osman.
On the Brazilian side, apart from Alaby, the event included the undersecretary general of the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), Roberto Jaguaribe, who is responsible for affairs in Africa and the Middle East, the Industrial Technology secretary at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Francelino Grando, the alcohol and sugar project and equipment manager at Dedini, Gilberto Soares da Silva, the manager of consultancy company Datagro, Maurício Nastari, and the secretary of the Brazilian embassy in Khartoum, Pedro Dias.
Apart from producing ethanol, Kenana plants cane, produces sugar, molasses, animal feed, milk and dairy products, chicken, beef, fruit, vegetables and also generates electricity. The company, according to Alaby, also provides consultancy in agro industrial planning.
In the sidelines of the inauguration, Alaby signed an agreement for cooperation between the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the Association of Businessmen of Sudan, represented by president Ahmad Marighali. The Chamber also provided great assistance to Kenana executives when they visited Brazil seeking partners for the business. The objective of the agreement is to guarantee assistance to Sudanese businessmen seeking opportunities in Brazil and vice versa.
*Translated by Mark Ament