South African billionaire Robert Gumede is leading an ambitious effort to revive Tongaat Hulett, the century-old sugar producer he rescued from near collapse, by transforming it into an integrated agri-energy business. Through his consortium, Vision Sugar, Gumede plans to generate electricity from sugarcane waste, produce ethanol for fuel blending, and convert carbon dioxide from sugar processing into medical oxygen and beverage-grade CO₂. The strategy also aims to expand the company’s grower network from about 17,500 to more than 30,000 farmers while doubling the roughly 50,000 jobs supported by its operations across South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Gumede argues that supportive government policies, including ethanol blending mandates, easier grid access, and protection against subsidized sugar imports, are critical to the turnaround.
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