BY: LEANA BRADSHAW
The level of sugar production being delivered at the Skeldon Sugar Factory indicates that the upgrade works done on the facility by Bosch Engineering “is bearing fruit”. This was the view expressed by Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy during an interview with the media on Wednesday. He highlighted that the factory is beginning to work as anticipated.
Dr Ramsammy explained that the Skeldon factory has produced an impressive yield thus far, producing more than 2500 tonnes of sugar, with the second crop almost equaling the production of the first crop. This, he said would take the factory’s total production for the year so far to some 95,000 tonnes.
“We are hoping to reach 155,000 tonnes for this crop and to exceed the 200,000 tonnes target. So in spite of the bad weather we’ve had so far, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is hoping that with improved September conditions… and with normal October and November weather, and with the possibility of grinding until Christmas, that we will be able to surpass the 155,000 tonnes for this second crop,” the minister pointed out.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
Dr Ramsammy further explained that one of the most important indicators for the Skeldon factory is its Tonne of Cane per Tonne of Sugar (TCTS), which is dependent mainly on the factory. Skeldon, he noted, is designed to produce between 10 and 12 tonnes of cane for one tonne of sugar.
“The old factory used to give a TCTS of between 13 and 15 so this new factory was designed to give more sugar… when Skeldon was first operationalised, it was providing TCTS of above 15, as high as 20”.
Optimistic
He outlined that the average TCTS so far this crop was 12-13, but it is expected to reduce below 12 as operations progress. However, the minister added that, “We are optimistic that given the right weather conditions, Skeldon will respond in a positive way. The problem we’ve had with Skeldon and throughout the industry is the rainy condition.”
Successful tests
South African firm Bosch Engineering was hired to execute rehabilitative work at the Skeldon factory and had conducted a series of successful tests.
The firm was hired to redesign and re-engineer several aspects of the facility, including the re-engineering of the bagasse feed system, redesigning the cane conveyers, drilling of a new well, the replacement of a five mega watt alternator, and the modification of the pump dumpers.
