ETHIOPIA: Progress made in construction of 10 new sugar mills
Published: 08/10/2012, 8:43:25 AM
The Ethiopian Sugar Corporation says the project to construct 10 sugar factories launched in different parts of Ethiopia estimated to be worth ETB80 billion (US$4.47 billion) is progressing well according to the Ethiopian News Agency.
Various parts of the project including the construction of dams and roads, irrigation and infrastructure development is well under way in the parts of the country where the projects are being launched said Yilma Tibebu, Director of Legal and Public Relations with the Corporation according to Yilma Tibebu.
The projects are being developed in the Afar, Amhara, Tigray and Southern Regional States as part of plans to enable the country to become one of the top ten sugar exporters in the world.
The projects are being developed in Beles, Wolkait, Kesem and Omo Kuraz found in the respective regions.
More than 50% of the construction work on the main water canal being constructed on the Beles River as part of the sugar project in the area said Yilma.
Sugar plantation is also being developed on 462 hectares in Beles and 51 hectares in Omo Kuraz he noted. 70% of the dam construction of Kesem has been completed according to Yilma.
The sugar projects involve the construction of plants and the establishment of plantations in all four states.
Ethiopia aims to increase national sugar production to 2.3 million tonnes by the middle of 2015. It is expected that approximately 1.2 million tonnes of the future production is for export purposes.
The Ethiopian Sugar Corporation is working to enhance the capacity of its leadership and executives to support the development of projects in the country announced the Corporation.