Exports Quality Sugar Production In New Skeldon Factory

After experiencing hurdles with the start up and interruptions from poor conditions, the new Skeldon Sugar Factory has produced “several hundred tonnes” of sugar and finally started grinding on a continuous basis from 4 am on Tuesday.

During a tour of the factory yesterday, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud told the media that the testing which started on March 6 would continue for the entire crop and would be monitored closely.

He said too that the old factory has already been put out of use and the new US$181M factory would be producing the Skeldon quota of sugar.

Site representative from the contracting company; China National Technology Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC), Andrew Jin had said that the factory had originally experienced technical difficulties during the second part of the commissioning exercise, involving a 72-hour test run.

These involved problems of the interface between the punt dumper and the conveyor belt and problems with the shredder bearings among other technical difficulties.

He had said too that the contracting company was conducting assessments and remedial work and was working collaboratively with the engineers and employers to move the project to the next stage of the commissioning.

Jin had pointed out that major construction was completed in May and the commissioning began on August 26 with three dry runs. From September 9 to 11 the factory crushed a total of 2,000 tonnes of sugar cane when it ran into technical difficulties.

He told this newspaper yesterday that the defects were identified by Guysuco and had been rectified during the out-of-crop season.

He said rain was one of the major setbacks for the testing as the cane-harvesters could not have been used and there was a limited supply of cane. Initial problems also existed with the X001 cane conveyor which had a tracking problem and had to be adjusted.

Meanwhile he said the factory has a chemical water treatment plant but the capacity is not enough for the boilers and that Guysuco is currently using a tractor to deliver more water. He noted too that there has been better coordination between Guysuco and the contractors.

The factory was supposed to have been in commercial production from the second crop last year but missed that deadline and also the start of this crop. Liquidated damages were then applied in this turn-key project.

source: stabroeknews