Transforming Agricultural Waste to Sustainable Energy
Our mission is to replace firewood-as-fuel in Kenya and East Africa.
We produce a modern biomass energy product from sugarcane waste. We call it Sugarwood. Our briquettes and pellets are a superior fuel across household, school, and industrial sectors.
Better performing.
Better for the planet.
WATCH: How We Do It
A glimpse of our process
Our Products
Benefits of our briquettes & pellets vs conventional firewood
Greater Calorific Value
= Double the total heat output
Twice the Density
= Burns 50% longer
Less Moisture
= Less smoke & pollution
Year Round Supply
= Consistent availability
Free of Impurities
= No "clinker"
Lower Ash Content
= Less time clearing the boiler
Why Now?
OUR IMPACT
SAVING FORESTS
CURBING DEFORESTATION
Firewood consumption is the driving force behind the rampant deforestation in Kenya and East Africa. Creating alternatives to firewood, is a key part of the solution. Each ton of VumaBriqs is equivalent to 25 trees worth of wood fuel. We are aiming to save two million trees in Kenya by 2024.
JOBS=SUSTAINABILITY
There aren't many options for earning a viable income in rural western Kenya. Basic subsistence farming predominates. We are helping to change that by creating additive and year-round jobs with training, benefits, and a pathway for promotions. We have created over 100 jobs and we expect hundreds more in the future. Our belief is that sustainable jobs are the heart of economic development.
CREATING JOBS
REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE
Based on our projections for the industrial use of VumaBriqs in Kenya in just the next three years, 42,000 tons of CO2 will be absorbed by the trees saved. That's equivalent to the carbon emissions from 9,000 cars per year or an individual's carbon burden on over 11,000 commercial flights.
TEAM
Management Team
Ian Otula
CEO & Co-Founder
Aaron Pattillo
Chairman & Co-Founder
Rose Auma
Head of Sun Drying
Stephen Wabuko
Factory Operations Manager
Chris Onyango
Head of Collection
Davis Wachira
Finance Manager
Peter Ochieng
Production Supervisor
Sam Oyola
Production Supervisor
Management Team
Oliver Cooper
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Otula
Dir. Special Opps & Cofounder
Aaron Pattillo
Chairman & Cofounder
Mercy Ingasha
Sales Manager - Schools
Apollo Ochieng
Factory Operations Director
George Olewe
Field Operations Director
Susan Karori
Finance & Admin Manager
Danstan Otieno
Sales Manager - Industrial
Contact
Us
Are you currently burning firewood as a fuel? If so, let's talk. We can arrange a demonstration of our products in your cookstove or industrial boiler. We also provide existing customer references, and supply an independent third-party Certificate of Analysis showing all key parameters of our products.
Where To Find Us
Vuma Factory + Headquarters
Plot 48/785 South Sakwa, Oyani Road, Awendo District, Migori County, Kenya
Our Supporters
