More to be done
The two-day testing of the Skeldon Sugar Modernization Plant (SSMP) has been a success despite delays and “hiccups” in the start-up process and the first batch of sugar is expected to be produced today.
- The control room at the sugar estate
The almost US$200M expansion project had experienced hurdles with the starting up of the factory. Vice-president of the contracting company, China National Technology Import/Export Corporation (CNTIC), Zhang Goudong assured that there are no serious problems and that “everything is working well.” He said the delay was due to technical issues as well as the long wait in transporting the equipment. More tests would be done in greater volumes and Goudong said that he would remain in Guyana until they are successfully completed.
Goudong also said that more local operators are needed to be trained as to how the system works in order to have a smooth and effective transition. Currently, a third of the old Skeldon factory staff is already working with Chinese staff in the operation of the new factory and more staff will be deployed when commercial operations begin.
During a tour at the factory yesterday, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, told reporters that the “second round of testing indicated that the contractors have made some progress.” He said workers of Guysuco are working with the contractors to ensure that the factory works satisfactorily. The contractors would be handing over the factory to Guysuco at the completion of the testing and more personnel would be taken on board.
- Cane being fed into the grinder (Ministry of Agriculture photo)
The minister said that the factory represents a tremendous investment with the latest technology and as such it should have the right management to go forward. Persaud expressed dissatisfaction with Guysuco’s management and has said that in another two weeks Booker Tate would no longer be responsible for certain components of the factory.
In a recent statement, government had criticized the corporation’s drop in production and had ordered that immediate steps be taken to correct the situation. The statement said that “Production targets for the past several years are constantly being reduced and the litany of reasons has become wider, more all-embracing and repetitive.”
Last weekend Persaud held a special board meeting with general managers of all the estates as well as other senior employees at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Estate to discuss additional steps to improve production.
He told the media that the agricultural department of Guysuco is the main slippage and that a new deputy chief executive would have to be appointed.
- An aerial view of the factory (Ministry of Agriculture photo)
Since the new factory was not operational for the start of the second sugar crop, the old Skeldon factory had to be pressed back into service. This means that the corporation will not likely meet its roduction target this year.
- Testing of the new Skeldon sugar factory in full swing yesterday
Where are all the naysayers and anti-PPP hate mongers now?
Hope you have packed up to leave Canada and return Guiyana to help cut some cane my friend….the PPP needs a lot of help for its absentee supporters.
suresh, it’s not about hate and anti ppp, its voicing our concern when the govt fails to perform for the benifit of all guyanese,so check yourself boy, and you stop hating.
…..you got it wrong…..!! in this time when money, grants, sponserships and to add finicial melt down across the world……everyone have a right to ask questions…..money is hard to come by ……right must be right…..these are not the days to push anything into the face of guyanese….suresh!!……you may love the ppp and it principles….however…..guyanese continue to be rob by both the ppp/pnc……lets get the audit ot general report on this project when final comminioning is compleated and the returns expected for $181mus…….let us get a report on the support mechanicism that will take this factory month to month……lets wait and see……i notice you flag don’t say guyana…….
……..now that technology have replace unskill labour force!!………what has become of the many unskill labour……would the government give them to plant any of the can needed by the estate….oh!!…i just remember thy can switch to trading of g&$#@ and other comodities…….
They are all blogging on Hinckson.
We’re still here, waiting to see the outcome, weither good or bad.
And Suresh!!! It’s not about hating the PPP, it’s about responding to promises not kept.
The promise was to make the country better for ALL Guyanese (FAILED)
For a free democracy, free speech, market economy, job creation, equal opertunity for ALL (FAILED) It’s been sixteen years, and counting !!!!!
For the good of Guyana, may it not break down again.
Hold on that headline belongs in the Chronic. Who said it was a success? Even the minister was not so gushing:
“During a tour at the factory yesterday, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, told reporters that the “second round of testing indicated that the contractors have made some progress.” He said workers of Guysuco are working with the contractors to ensure that the factory works satisfactorily.”
How many broke down for the good of Guyana from 1964-92?
Stabroek headline good for progress and Guyana bad for the naysayers , anti govt , anti Guyana bloggers here, waiting to hear what they have to say on this one keep it up stabroek show us some more progress that is taking place in Guyana
am ehh ! doc ,,, was there any other expectation ,, abt the test ?????,, while ure on the “satisfaction” of the test ,, does dat meen dat all the components of machines needed to make sugar from juice to crysatals is in “cohesive working order ” to accomodate this process ????????,, and is there adequate milk enuff ,, to feed de baby ,, for it to grow exponentially ,, to benefit ,, de nashan for their 181 million USD !……
in de face of de shark and sardine syndrome of the Eu ,, looks like u may have to find market fuh de sugah wah yuh hopin fuh getfum dis mill !,,,,,, if any returns on dis investment is to be realised by de nashan ,, den ,, it seems logical to me ,, that to facilitate the full production capacity of this cutting edge 181 mil USD installation ,, dere shud have been cane ready to harvest ,, in bbbbbooountiful quantities to feed this mill !,,, an wile yuh gon have to grow much larger quantities of cane to feed de mill ,,, juss remembah dat ,,yuh gon b burning mo’ cane,,,, thus adding to the elements dat mek rain ,, and in de face of dis ,, wah it look like to me is dat yuh chasin ‘ yuh tail !,,,,,,,,
Well done bgsbny. It’s sad that the visionless cannot see further than their eyelashes (which is little or nothing). There are those who think PNC/R supporters & PPP/C haters are waiting to see this fail. NOT TRUE. Our taxpayers (ALL OF US) are paying for this investment. Unfortunately we know of this administration’s planning capabilities so it will be a very welcome outcome should this project prevail & be as successful as some that we’ve been able to see in places like Cuba. Actually, in Cuba the sugar mill never stops & if it does it’s for a very short maintenance check. Let’s see how it works out in our native land.
I hope that Guysuco overcome their challenges and succeed. Sugar is too important to Guyana .
well i dont know if thats good or not but i hope people who knows how to manage a power plant and not manage a sugar factory will be put to test on the POWER PLANT component of the ”new factory” it must he know that GUYSUCO management rite now at that new factory has neglect advice to carry out maintaintance to aux. components in the power house. This has contributed to the problens that GPL faces rite now in Brebice. I hope that GUYSUCO does not treat the power house like the treated the other factories i.e in regard to not carring out proper and on time maintainance.
Let pray this doesn’t end up like the hydro plant in Region 9. For us taxpayers sake.
All Guyanese should be proud. This new factory will bring effeciencies and hopefully the ton cane ratio will vasly improve. Over the years Guysuco lost too much revenue through wastage. We now need to modernize the field where there is less manula work and more machine. Reduce the cost of manufacturing is the only way Guysuco can be competitive on the world market. And for all the nay-sayers, anyone who work on projects know the complexities involved so a few snags is always expected.
And for the bloggers that say it is tax payer money, news for you it is NOT!! Guysuco is a viable profitable business and they could pay for this capital investment if were it not for the Government both PPP and PNC who are sucking this corporation.
For the sake of all Guyanese and Guyana’s development, I wish this factory success.