Congo launches Sakania sugar refinery project to boost food security and cut imports
DRC moves to reduce sugar imports with new Sakania refinery project, aiming to strengthen domestic production, food security and local economic development.
DRC – The Democratic Republic of Congo has formalised the launch of the Sakania sugar refinery project in Haut-Katanga province through a memorandum of understanding signed between Minister of State Muhindo Nzangi Butondo and local customary authorities.
The agreement marks a significant step in the country’s efforts to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on sugar imports.
Elaborating on the scope of the project, Minister Butondo said: “We have just signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a sugar agro-food industry in the Sakania territory. This act marks the birth of a vast project that will henceforth be known as the Sakania sugar factory.”
The initiative, formalised on March 18, 2026, is part of a broader national policy to enhance domestic agricultural production and reduce import dependency.
According to FAO data, the DRC imported more than US$150 million worth of sugar in 2025, highlighting a widening gap between local production and consumption.
The Sakania refinery project aims to address this gap by developing sugarcane cultivation and establishing modern processing facilities. Authorities expect the project to produce its first sugar output within two years, creating a domestic supply chain capable of meeting local demand.
Minister Butondo emphasised the importance of the project in advancing food sovereignty. “Today’s ceremony, beyond its symbolic value, represents an important step for the food security of the DRC. As part of our food sovereignty efforts, we want to reduce our dependence on foreign imports, particularly for products like sugar,” he said.
The refinery is designed as an integrated agro-industrial initiative, incorporating technical, economic and environmental studies, alongside investment mobilisation strategies.
It also includes a local development fund and community programmes aimed at creating jobs, improving infrastructure and ensuring community participation in land allocation and tenure security.
The Sakania sugar project reflects the government’s broader strategy to industrialise agriculture, develop value chains and diversify the economy beyond its traditional reliance on mining.
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