Our consumption of key materials, energy, and water during the financial year ended 31 March 2025 directly correlates with our increased production volumes.
The consumption of raw sugar and key chemicals increased in line with our higher production output. Raw sugar consumption rose by 13.70%, from 57,241 tonnes to 65,081 tonnes. Similarly, we saw an increase in the consumption of Lime (+29.51%), Acid (+14.19%), and Flocculant (+25.64%). This aligns directly with our efforts to purify a larger volume of raw sugar. Our energy consumption trends reflect our strategic efforts to improve efficiency and manage costs. The increase in Coal (+12.79%), Electricity (+4.71%), and Diesel (13.70%) consumption is directly proportional to our higher production output, as these sources power our core refining and logistics processes. We have, however, managed to reduce our Petrol consumption by 11.17%, reflecting our focus on optimizing the fuel mix for our operations. Our water consumption decreased by 3.31%, from 362,631 m3 to 350,623 m3. This reduction is a direct result of our water conservation initiatives, including the successful repair of leaks and the implementation of water reuse programs within our processes, demonstrating our commitment to responsible water management.
Commitment to ensure conservation
We are committed to the responsible management of natural resources, ensuring that our operations are both efficient and environmentally sound. Our sustainability strategy focuses on continuous improvement in the use of raw materials, energy, and water throughout the sugar refining process.
MATERIALS
Our production process relies on two key materials: raw sugar and food-grade chemicals. The purpose of these chemicals is to purify the raw sugar, which contains impurities and colorants from the sugarcane. The use of these chemicals is essential for producing high-quality, pure white sugar that meets consumer expectations.
Our approach to materials management is centred on efficiency and safety. We aim to contain all process loss and ensure that no residual chemicals remain in our final products. To guarantee food safety and quality, our processes and products are regularly audited and certified by recognized authorities, including FERA, SMRI, KO, and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ).
ENERGY
Energy is a critical input in our operations, and we are dedicated to improving efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint. Our initiatives focus on optimizing the use of all energy sources.
Coal:
As our primary energy source, we have implemented measures to ensure the efficient use of our boilers and control emissions by using washed coal that has less than 1% sulphur content. We have also focused on practical steps like insulating pipes to minimize heat loss and upgrading our evaporators to improve overall energy efficiency.
Electricity:
We use a variety of strategies to conserve electricity and reduce costs, including power factor corrections to minimize energy waste and ensuring that our machinery is the correct size for its function, avoiding unnecessary consumption.
Diesel & Petrol:
To reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we emphasize the regular maintenance of our equipment and are transitioning our factory fleet to more energy-efficient alternatives, such as electric forklifts.
WATER
We recognize that water is a precious resource and have a robust strategy for its conservation. Our initiatives are designed to minimize consumption and maximize reuse. We prioritize recycling water wherever possible within our operations and have a dedicated program for stopping leaks promptly. Additionally, we use boreholes to supplement our water supply and have a system for partial treatment of wastewater before it is discharged, ensuring we meet environmental standards.
The Group has established procedures that emphasize corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and is dedicated to supporting communities whenever possible. Our CSR goals include engaging with stakeholders, fostering positive relationships, and promoting local development initiatives. We actively contribute by providing preparation of structured apprenticeship programs, resources, making donations, and forming partnerships.
EMISSIONS
Our Scope 1 emissions, which represent greenhouse gases released directly from our owned and operated sources, totalled 38,934.51 tCO2e for the financial year. This figure is primarily driven by the combustion of coal, which accounts for most of our direct emissions (38,358.09 tCO2e).
The data, reported in accordance with the DEFRA Reporting Standard, reflects emissions from our on-site consumption of various fuels, including coal, petrol, diesel, and LPG. We are actively exploring strategies, that leverage on technological upgrades, to reduce our reliance on high-carbon fuels and improve operational efficiency across our assets to mitigate our direct environmental impact.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
As part of our commitment to environmental responsibility, we manage our waste through a program focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling. We minimize waste generation and recover valuable materials by selling plastic waste for recycling and providing other combustible waste to be used as fuel. We have partnered with a professional waste management service provider for the safe and compliant disposal of all solid and liquid factory waste at designated sites.
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