Corporate profile · Zambia
One sun.
Nine industries.
Surya Group cultivates impact — from ethanol and energy to farming, spirits, glass and logistics — building sustainable, farm-rooted businesses that power communities across Zambia and beyond.
About the Group
Built from a single farm-produced idea
Established in 2008, Surya Group is a diversified conglomerate with a strong presence in biofuels, energy, agriculture, packaging, glass manufacturing, spirits, infrastructure and logistics.
The Group is driven by the vision of creating sustainable, innovative and socially responsible businesses that contribute to Zambia's long-term growth. The journey began in 2001, on a first visit to a sugar mill in India — the moment the idea of building a diverse portfolio from a single farm-produced product first took root.
Today we cultivate cassava and sugarcane, transforming them into fuel- and food-grade ethanol, premium spirits, and eco-friendly packaging, guided throughout by a zero-waste philosophy and the principle: "Clean Zambia, Green Zambia."
Partnership structure
- Surya BioFuels Limited
- Surya Energy Limited
- First Choice Logistics Limited
- First Choice Breweries Limited
- Jash Packaging Limited
- Jash Beverages Limited
- Surya Developers & Infra Limited
- Surya Glass Limited
- Arubhi Millers Limited
- Arubhi Farms Limited
Vision
Power to life.
To pioneer sustainable growth across diverse industries by integrating innovation, quality and environmental stewardship — creating value-driven solutions that empower communities, promote eco-friendly practices, and contribute to a thriving, sustainable future for Zambia and beyond.
Mission
- Drive sustainable industrial growth through innovation and integration
- Support Zambia's economy while leading in renewable energy
- Deliver high-quality products and services across industries
- Promote community well-being and social responsibility
What we stand for
Five values, every venture
Innovation
Driving progress through technology and ideas.
Sustainability
Commitment to green and eco-friendly practices.
Excellence
Striving for the highest quality in every venture.
Integrity
Building trust through ethical practices.
Community
Empowering people and supporting development.
History & milestones
Seventeen years of building, one sector at a time
- 2008Surya Group founded with a focus on renewable energy.
- 2012Expanded into agriculture and packaging solutions.
- 2016Commissioned a state-of-the-art ethanol plant in Katuba.
- 2019Diversified into spirits blending with First Choice Breweries.
- 2023Recognised as a key player in Zambia's green energy transition.
- 2025Commissioned the largest glass foundry in Southern Africa.
Business verticals
Nine companies, one sun
Every venture traces back to what the land produces — cassava, sugarcane, maize — and how far Surya can carry it: into energy, into goods, into markets.
Leadership
The people behind the Group
Founder & Chairman
Kalpesh Patel
We cultivate cassava and sugarcane, transforming them into fuel-grade and food-grade ethanol, premium spirits, and eco-friendly packaging. Guided by our 'Zero Waste' philosophy, we maximise efficiency while minimising environmental impact — Clean Zambia, Green Zambia.
Founding Member & Vice Chairperson
Neetu Patel
A founding member instrumental in shaping the Group from its early days into a diversified conglomerate — bringing trust, care and inclusiveness to every sphere of the business, and proving that leadership is as much about nurturing people as it is about strategy.
Executive leadership
6 leaders
Dharmendra Solanki
Group CFO
35 years in finance, commercial operations and strategic management across India, Tanzania and Kenya.
Sanjay Sharma
Director of Administration
25 years in administration, compliance and stakeholder management across India and Zambia.
Danny Christopher Heldt
CEO, Surya Energy
Deep P&L experience across Fuel, LPG and Lubricants in India and East Africa.
Shivprasad Keshkar
GM, First Choice Logistics
Nearly three decades in logistics, fleet operations and cross-border supply chain management.
Shailesh Patel
Admin GM, Surya Biofuels
Oversees the Ethanol Plant's operations and drives new ventures including Surya Glass and the pyrolysis project.
Shashi Bhushan Mudgal
GM Procurement
32+ years in procurement, logistics and project management across nine countries.
Sustainability & innovation
Growth and responsibility, together
Our operations are guided by a deep respect for the environment — minimising our carbon footprint, conserving natural resources, and promoting biodiversity through sustainable farming, zero-waste manufacturing, and investment in renewable energy.
From pioneering green biofuels toward a vision of running every plant on 100% renewable energy, to testing next-generation energy storage and solar-agriculture hybrids that power farms while growing food — sustainability, for us, is a form of innovation.
Achievements
Milestones worth marking
- Zambia's largest spirit manufacturer, setting industry benchmarks with premium, high-demand products
- Farmer empowerment through outgrower schemes, supporting livelihoods and agricultural communities
- Among the fastest-growing oil marketing companies, with a strong retail and wholesale fuel presence
- Over 5,000 employees across industries, creating opportunities and nurturing talent
- Among the largest producers of food- and fuel-grade ethanol in the region
- A robust logistics fleet offering cross-border services across Zambia, Malawi, DRC, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia
Infrastructure & facilities
Where we operate
- Ethanol & CO₂ Plant — Katuba, Chibombo District
- Glass Manufacturing Unit — Katuba
- Arubhi Farms — Chibombo, 1,000 hectares
- Arubhi Millers — Chalala
- First Choice Logistics — Mungwi, Lusaka (office & workshop)
- First Choice Breweries — Chinika light industrial area, Lusaka
- Jash Packaging — Chinika light industrial area, Lusaka
- Corporate offices — Lusaka (HQ), India, Dubai, Malawi, Tanzania
Strategic partners & clients
Corporate social responsibility
Surya Foundation
Empowering lives, enriching communities.
As the philanthropic arm of the Group, Surya Foundation channels a portion of the Group's earnings into education and healthcare — two pillars for building sustainable livelihoods. Beyond aid, the Foundation's vision is to empower individuals, fostering self-reliance, inclusion and community development across Zambia.
Future roadmap
What's next for the Group
- 01Surya BioEnergy — pyrolysis project and Surya Solarisation (solar energy project)
- 02Surya Developers — new Surya Corporate Office in Roma, Lusaka
- 03Surya Developers — fuel station expansion project
- 04Surya Developers — 21-building residential complex
- 05Surya Energy — warehouse and storage depot project
Get in touch
Let's talk business
- Head office109–110, Chisango Road, Villa Elizabeth, Lusaka, Zambia
- Phone+260 973 680 907
- Emailadmin@suryabiofuels.com
- Regional officesIndia · Dubai · Malawi · Tanzania