MOSHI, Tanzania – TPC Limited, a leading sugar producer based in Moshi, has launched the construction of a $52 million (TZS 130 billion) distillery project in the Kilimanjaro Region, marking a significant expansion of Tanzania’s industrial alcohol production capacity.
The inauguration ceremony on November 19, 2025, was presided over by Treasury Registrar Nehemiah Mchechu, who described the project as transformative for Tanzania’s industrial sector. The new facility represents a major step in the country’s push toward value-added manufacturing and circular production models.
Project Specifications and Output Capacity
According to TPC Limited Corporate Affairs Executive Officer Jaffari Ally, the distillery will have substantial production capacity upon completion:
- 16.3 million litres of extra neutral alcohol annually
- 400,000 litres of technical alcohol
- 400,000 litres of industrial carbon dioxide
- 8,000 metric tonnes of potassium-based fertilizer
- 6 megawatts of renewable power generation
The project exemplifies circular economy principles, utilizing by-products from sugar production to create multiple valuable outputs while generating renewable energy to support operations and reduce environmental impact.
Ownership Structure and Economic Impact
Mr. Mchechu revealed the ownership arrangement for the new distillery, with TPC Limited and the government holding 85% of shares, while Isautier Drinks Africa holds the remaining 15%.
“This investment will diversify products, create new revenue streams, generate and save foreign exchange, and support the country’s industrialization agenda,” Mchechu stated during the inauguration. He emphasized that TPC Limited’s success should encourage other privatized companies to meet government and community expectations.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
TPC Limited was privatized 25 years ago when the government transferred 75% of its shares to Sukari Investment Limited under the Miwa Group of Mauritius, while retaining 25% ownership. The company has since expanded its operations beyond sugar production into related industrial activities.
The distillery project forms part of TPC’s long-term expansion strategy, aligned with Tanzania’s national goals for industrial growth and renewable energy development. The initiative demonstrates how collaboration between government and private investors can deliver tangible results supporting both industrial and agricultural development in Tanzania.
