PARLIAMENTARY Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development has hailed the Mkulazi Sugar Factory project in Kilosa District, Morogoro Region, as a significant step towards addressing sugar shortage in the country.

Fatma Taufiq, the committee chairperson, made the remarks during a working visit to the strategic project co-owned by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and Tanzania Prisons Service.

She said that the factory which has been operational for two months is already distributing sugar to the public thereby helping to alleviate the ongoing shortages.

"On behalf of the committee, I commend the government for successfully facilitating this major investment .It will play a crucial role in addressing the sugar shortages in our country," she said.

During the visit, the committee observed the factory’s machinery in operation, ensuring a steady supply of sugar.

Patrobas Katambi, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (Labour, Youth, Employment and Persons with Disability), said that the purpose of the visit was to assess the factory's production capacity.

Katambi noted that the project offers additional benefits, including electricity generation by the factory, with surplus power contributing to the national grid, job creation for young people and a reliable market for local sugarcane farmers.

He added that the factory, built with advanced technology, has the capacity to process 500,000 tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in an annual production of 50,000 tonnes of sugar.

Dr Hildelitha Msita, chairperson of Mkulazi Holding Co. Ltd board, mentioned plans to expand the range of products derived from sugarcane, including ethanol, which can serve as raw material for various applications, including pharmaceuticals.