By Adonis Byemelwa
The morning air in the Kilimanjaro region often feels charged with a kind of quiet optimism, but lately that sensation seems even more palpable. It drifts across the sugar fields of the Tanganyika Planting Company, better known as TPC Limited, mingling with the earthy scent of cane and the low hum of machinery.
With the inauguration of a $52 million distillery project set for tomorrow, that atmosphere of expectation has settled over Moshi like a warm, insistent breeze. People can sense that something significant is beginning, something that carries both economic promise and emotional resonance.
TPC has always been an anchor in the region, shaping livelihoods, routines, and local identity for generations. But this moment feels different. Construction of the new distillery has already reached 30 percent, and with full completion expected by December of next year, the project is rapidly evolving from an ambitious blueprint into a tangible symbol of transformation.
The initiative suggests not only industrial growth, but a broader, more nuanced reimagining of how agriculture, energy, and community development can work together. It signals a shift from traditional production toward a more circular, environmentally conscious model of doing business.
The significance of the occasion is reflected in the dignitaries expected at the ceremony. Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu and Treasury Registrar Nhemia Mchechu will jointly lay the foundation stone, their presence highlighting the 25-year partnership between the Government of Tanzania and Sukari Investment Limited.
Over the years, their collaboration has strengthened the sugar sector, stabilized production, and attracted steady investment even under shifting economic pressures. Tomorrow’s ceremony, in many ways, is both a reaffirmation of trust and an invitation to envision the next chapter of shared progress.
Conversation among workers around the estate reveals a mixture of pride and cautious excitement. Many of them have lived through earlier phases of TPC’s evolution—from the years of modest output to the sweeping modernization efforts of the past decade. For people like Bilal Omar Mchomvu, a trade union representative, the distillery represents much more than industrial expansion.
It carries emotional weight. He speaks with a grounded confidence about what the new plant will mean for the wider community. In his view, increased profits will lift not only wages but also the fortunes of families connected to every worker.
It’s a sentiment repeated in different ways across the estate: when one job appears, an entire network of lives begins to change. The excitement is not abstract; it’s tied to school fees, improved homes, and the promise of steadier futures.
On the technical side, the distillery’s output promises to reshape TPC’s value chain. As TPC’s Corporate Affairs Executive Officer, Jaffari Ally, explains, the facility is set to produce 16.3 million litres of Extra Neutral Alcohol and 400,000 litres of technical alcohol each year.
These products open the door to expanded markets and diversified revenue streams. But what stands out even more is the plant’s emphasis on transforming molasses—once a low-value by-product- into high-value commodities. The ability to produce fertilizer, industrial carbon dioxide, and renewable power reflects a deeper shift toward efficiency and sustainability. It’s the kind of shift that positions TPC not merely as a producer, but as a regional leader in green innovation.
Walking through the estate, it becomes easier to appreciate the scale of what TPC has built over the years. The company operates on 16,000 hectares, a landscape where long rows of cane stretch beyond the horizon and narrow paths weave between worker settlements and agricultural blocks.
That land has witnessed a remarkable transformation. When TPC was privatized in 1999, the estate produced 35,000 tonnes of sugar. Today, output has climbed to an impressive 119,466 tonnes. Tripling production in a quarter-century is the kind of achievement that becomes a point of collective pride, a shared story residents tell with a sense of ownership. To them, these numbers reflect not just managerial strategy, but the sweat, resilience, and commitment of thousands of hands.
TPC CEO Marius Jacobs reflects on this journey with steady pride. For him, the company’s record-breaking output is not just a milestone; it demonstrates what can be accomplished through long-term vision and disciplined execution. He highlights the dedication of teams, partners, and community members who have collectively supported this upward momentum.
The distillery fits naturally into this narrative. It is not a deviation but a continuation of a strategy defined by resilience, modernization, and shared prosperity. Jacobs speaks as someone who has seen both setbacks and triumphs, and whose optimism is grounded in firsthand experience.
The economic impact of the project extends well beyond the estate’s boundaries. With an estimated 1,800 jobs expected during construction, local businesses are already bracing for busier days. Food vendors anticipate heavier lunch-time crowds, transport operators expect more daily trips, and small shops are preparing for increased demand. Growth, especially in a semi-rural economy, rarely stays contained.
It spreads through everyday interactions, purchases at corner stores, school enrolments, and new bicycles parked outside small homes. People feel this kind of momentum before they see it in official reports. They talk about it in line at markets, in evening gatherings, or while repairing tools after long shifts.
Even the upcoming celebration speaks volumes. After the official unveiling, shareholders from the government and Sukari Investment Limited will gather for a gala dinner in the 4,500-hectare Namelok Forest. The location, a stretch of towering woodland and quiet clearings, offers a symbolic pause amid the pace of development.
The dinner marks 25 years of partnership, a period in which TPC’s contribution to the national economy has climbed from two billion to ninety-seven billion shillings annually. The contrast between those two figures is staggering. In the glow of lanterns under the forest canopy, the achievements of the past quarter-century will likely feel both humbling and inspiring.
As TPC steps into this new phase, what resonates most is the blend of continuity and reinvention. The company remains rooted in sugar production, yet it is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable industrial practice. Its work increasingly reflects an understanding that economic success must be tied to environmental care and community empowerment.
In conversations with residents, this perspective comes through clearly. They talk about the distillery not as an isolated project but as part of a broader shift toward self-reliance and modern agricultural identity. To them, the initiative signals a future in which Kilimanjaro is recognized not only for its breathtaking mountain slopes but also for its innovative industrial footprint.
On the eve of the ceremony, as the sun dips behind the mountain and soft shadows fall across the fields, the mood feels unmistakably hopeful. The distillery represents investment, opportunity, and industrial ambition, but it also symbolizes belief—belief in the region’s potential, in long-standing partnerships, and in the capacity of ordinary people to shape extraordinary outcomes.
As the community prepares for what lies ahead, there is a shared recognition that progress is rarely linear. Challenges will come, economic shifts, climate variability, evolving market demands, but there is also a renewed sense of preparedness.
The distillery has become a kind of focal point for these hopes, a tangible reminder that development can be both ambitious and inclusive. People describe it as a spark for future generations, a foundation upon which new skills, new industries, and new economic identities might grow. This momentum reflects determination, unity, and the region’s optimism.