Oyo Sugar Factory Reaches Test-Running Stage, Set For Full-Scale Production
The Oyo Sugar and Derivatives Industries Limited factory in Iseyin, Oyo State, has reached the commissioning and test-running stage, marking a significant milestone in the development of the state’s sugar industry.
The National Sugar Development Council, NSDC, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, describing the development as a milestone that brings to fruition over a decade of financial, technical and institutional support by the Council.
According to the NSDC, the 300-tonnes-per-day greenfield sugar mill was developed under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan’s Backward Integration Programme, which is aimed at boosting local sugar production and reducing the country’s dependence on imported sugar.
The council said it funded the procurement of the factory’s core sugar mill at about #1.64 billion and later provided additional funding for cane development and operational support, bringing its total financial commitment to approximately #2.2 billion.
It added that the Oyo State Government contributed an estimated #850 million in equity funding towards the completion of outstanding works.
The NSDC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Kamar Bakrin, said the factory now stands ready for commissioning is the result of sustained commitment by the Council and the Oyo State Government.