Pan Paper Mills is set to re-open next month, general manager of Rai Group of Companies Chowdarry Venkanna has revealed.
“As you can see the smoke is already billowing from some machines,” Venkanna said as quoted by the Standard.
He added that both electricity and have been restored and testing of machines is ongoing.
“The official opening that was to be on August 30 failed because water had not been restored and there were some minor logistical problems which we have sorted out,” he said.
Venkanna is overseeing the revival of the mill after Rai Group of Companies acquired it for Sh900 million.
He said they are putting things in place to ensure that the factory officially begins operations from next month.
Already, 200 former workers have been re-absorbed and plans are on to bring back another 200.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka who toured the factory on Sunday said phase one is almost complete and will be reopened soon.
“I am very happy with the progress report. I hope the reopening is going to change the fortunes of this county. Its collapse rendered many people jobless and even broke some marriages,” Lusaka said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially reopen the factory.