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.
UPCYCLING SUGARCANE WASTE
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 Sugarwood is equivalent to 25 trees worth of wood fuel. We are aiming to save two million trees in Kenya by 2025.
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. We believe sustainable jobs are the heart of economic development.
CREATING JOBS
REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE
Using Sugarwood instead of conventional firewood saves trees that sequester CO2. Upcycling bagasse also prevents the emission of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 80x more potent than CO2. This year we expect to reduce 42,000 tons of CO2. 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.
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TEAM
Management Team
Ian Otula
​
CEO & Co-Founder
Aaron Pattillo
​
Chairman & Co-Founder
Rose Auma
​
Head of Sun Drying
Stephen Wabuko
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Factory Operations Manager
Chris Onyango
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Head of Collection
Davis Wachira
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Finance Manager
Peter Ochieng
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Production Supervisor
Sam Oyola
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Production Supervisor
Management Team
Oliver Cooper
Chief Executive Officer
Ian Otula
Dir. Special Opps & Cofounder
Aaron Pattillo
Chairman & Cofounder
Mercy Ingasha
Sales Manager - Schools
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Cliff Odege
Senior Engineer
George Olewe
Operations Director
Caroline Gathungu
Finance & Admin Manager
Danstan Otieno
Sales Manager - Industrial
Field & Factory Operations
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
