Kenya Sugar Board to Transition Sugar Sector into Energy Regeneration Hub
Kenya Sugar Board (KSB) CEO and Chairman of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) Jude Chesire has revealed a plan to pivot from traditional sugar milling to a diversified agro-industrial model centered on ethanol production and renewable energy.
Chesire noted that the move has been informed by a need to keep the industry competitive by unlocking sugarcane’s full economic potential, transforming industrial waste into high-value revenue streams.
“We are rethinking the future through the lens of the bio-economy,” Chesire stated addressing the Informa Africa Sugar Conference.
The sector aims to scale up ethanol production by increasing the distillation of molasses, a move designed to meet rising industrial demand while providing sustainable, cleaner fuel alternatives.
Complementing this is a push for green energy generation, which leverages bagasse—the fibrous residue remaining after crushing—for large-scale power generation.
The industry will prioritise diversifying the application of molasses across emerging bio-based sectors to ensure that every element of the value chain is fully monetised and nothing goes to waste.
Chesire noted that these innovations are essential for transforming the industry into a “strategic economic pillar” that supports over 8 million livelihoods while contributing to the country’s renewable energy targets.
He called for efficient partnerships, noting that leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will allow Kenya to export sugar and bio-based industrial products across the continent.
“We are at an inflection point. Kenya is ready to lead Africa’s next chapter by transforming our sugar industry into a diversified, sustainable, and competitive agro-industrial powerhouse,” he noted.
KSB is championing an aggressive modernisation drive, which includes closing the efficiency gap through superior cane varieties specifically bred for high biomass and sugar content, alongside the mechanisation of field operations.