The new Skeldon factory is grinding cane for the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) expected bumper crop this season with 330 tonnes declared in forty-eight hours last week and sustained production up to yesterday, signalling the start of its commercial operation after a string of hiccups.
The factory made two declarations last week: 160 tonnes produced on Sunday and 170 tonnes the following day, and is expected to release new production figures today.
And with optimism flowing, the old factory, which had been grinding following start-up problems with the new US$181M project last year, has been unofficially de-commissioned.
Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud said yesterday that stability in the production is critical as the industry shifts to full operations at the new factory, noting that a complete and on-the-spot assessment would be done on Monday.
He emphasized that the factory is currently in a testing phase, but was keen to point out that the quality of sugar being produced is of export quality. Sugar produced within the past few days is already in the sugar bins, according to him. But even with the optimism, he said a cautious approach is being taken because of how complicated the new technology at the new factory is.
“…we are cautiously optimistic”, Persaud told Stabroek News and disclosed that he is taking a team up to Skeldon on Monday to make a full assessment of the factory. He said that PNCR-1G Member, Anthony Vieira of the parliamentary Economic Services Committee has also been invited to Skeldon. This is in keeping with a promise Persaud had made to involve the committee in developments within the industry.
On the issue of the old factory, which had rescued the industry when the new Skeldon plant failed to start up, Persaud said that it is no longer in operation and theorized that it could be mothballed in another few months.
Persaud said he would make a full disclosure on the new factory after visiting on Monday, adding that the idea is to make an on-the-spot assessment and consult with the relevant, technical persons.
President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand had also indicated to this newspaper that the new factory is operational and is producing at good levels. He pointed out that the focus is on sustainability in the production levels.
Chand said that workers in the industry had been slightly affected by bad weather during the past two weeks. Additionally, he said, the two consecutive holidays this week saw a reduced turnout during those testing periods.
According to the GAWU President, stakeholders are optimistic and are closely monitoring the operations at Skeldon because “we want it to succeed”. He made mention of the capacity levels of the new factory, noting that when it is fully operational production is expected to rapidly increase.
Further, Chand said that the old factory has served the industry well even producing around 170 tonnes just prior to being de-commissioned last week.
Prior to last week the expansion project at Skeldon had experienced hurdles with the starting up of the factory which had impacted on production – the industry recorded its lowest production level in years in 2008.
The project is a turnkey one between Government and the China National Technology Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC), which was to be handed over in October last year, one in a string of missed deadlines. The administration has since filed for liquidated damages.
CNTIC is required to conduct a 24-hour test and a 72-hour test; these must be successfully completed. Afterward, there would be three other 72-hour tests over the next year and the contractor would still be liable for defects that might arise.
Over the past few months the sugar processing equipment at the new factory have been tested in the sequence of Cane Preparation, Juice extraction, Clarification and Evaporation, Pan boiling and crystallization and VHP sugar handling.
The construction of the Skeldon factory was completed in May with independent components successfully tested prior to the completion date. Work began on the factory in 2005 and it was expected that the project would have been completed by October last year.
cautiously optimistic??
alright alright we get ya drift…
but why not wait and den talk wen de ting wokin properly and producing???
Quote: “Export Quality” – I would really like to see GY’s brown sugar on the supermarket shelves in the US. Most people are going organic and so more people will purchase the brown sugar instead of the white. I see all sorts of “stuff” from Jamaica and the packaging not quite up to par in some instances. These are some of the things that government needs to look into.
There was a time when Demerara sugar was available in most Supermarkets in the UK.
There is sugar labelled ‘Demerara’ in the UK, but I don’t think it’s from Demerara, Guyana. GUYSUCO had lost the battle to patent the ‘Demerara’ name. So anybody can make sugar and call it ‘Demerara’.
“would really like to see GY’s brown sugar on the supermarket shelves in the US”. US protectionist measures will not allow this to happen.
When are we going to sell these businesses Pee Pee Peeeed?
Cheddi declared in 92 that the government would get out of private businesses 17 years later and nothing has been done.
The P Hen C proved that government should not run these businesses, you the Pee PEe Peed have shown clearly that they were right.
With all the bad mouthing from the visionless oppositions…Good work Robert….
What we need is an abundance of sugar canes. Hope GAWU do not call any more wild strikes ever.
This is a good thing and should be applauded by all. To the naysayers, packages (including sachets) of sugar from Blairmont estate is sold outside of Guyana.
last year when i went to g/t i brought back with me a butter bucket of that lovely brown crystals.its the best.
Demerara Gold from Blairmont is the BEST…
Keep on grinding Guysuco, don’t worry about the pnc-rig, take them to see and they would grind inside.
There was a bit of a false start during last year’s 2nd Crop, but hoping however that all goes well from now on. Just one small point. With the new Diffusion process which replaced conventional Milling at New Skeldon, it is inappropriate to talk about “grinding cane”. In everyday parlance, Diffusion is extracting the sugar out of the sugarcane by means of a “Big Soak”, while Milling utilized a “Big Squeeze”.