Deal #1498

991ha for industrial plant, 19,254ha for sugarcane plantations, 5,600ha for outgrowers (sugar + food crops). Many different sizes mentioned. Other sources mention government of Mali signed a contract allocating Sosumar a 50-year lease (renewable) on 17,000 ha of land for sugar-cane plantations, but the Office du Niger map shows a total of 39,538 ha. Another source states the company is involved the development of 14 132 hectares of sugar-cane plantation.

The project primarily focuses on sugarcane production.Sugar, ethanol-electricity production

Société Sucrière de Markala (Sosumar) was allocated a 50-year lease (renewable) by Government of Mali

Illovo joined the project in 2005 but withdrew in 2012. Uttam Sucrotech from India is restarting the project (2013).In 2007, a contract was signed to allocate 17,000 hectares to Sosumar, but there’s a discrepancy in allocated area, with maps showing a total of 39,538 hectares.Illovo: Originally the majority owner, withdrew from the project in 2012 due to security concerns in Mali.The Société Sucrière de Markala (Sosumar) project faced significant challenges and ultimately did not reach its intended operational goals.

The commercial partner (Illovo) withdrew in 2012. Uttam Sucrotech from India is restarting the project. The status of the project and investor is unclear. As of 2025, we could find no new information on the status of the project under Uttam Sucrotech, therefore we have marked the deal as abandoned. A google earth investigation of the exact location does not reveal large scale farming on the land.

The farmers plant rice for household food between the irrigation pivots.40 percent of the overall sugar-cane plantation will be operated by independent growers.