Sugar production “well below budgeted figures”

Dec 03, 2010 News

…but Skeldon surpasses 2009 amount to date

Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) yesterday announced that the under-fire, new Skeldon factory has surpassed production figures of 2009.
“This achievement comes at a period when engineers of the Chinese contracting firm, CNTIC, are working to correct all the technical challenges by mid-2011,” the Corporation said in a statement yesterday.
In 2009, Skeldon produced 25,715 tonnes of sugar at a period when both factories, the old one and the new, were in operation.
“While this was well below its budgeted figures, the year to date production figure for 2010 is 30,522 tonnes. The factory continued to grind throughout the recent one-week industry-wide strike and apart from the technical problems, production would have been much higher barring work stoppages throughout the year due to strikes and the wet weather.”
According to GuySuCo, a significant achievement this year is the availability of canes across the industry.
Regarding the US$185M Skeldon Sugar Modernization Project, it is expected that the required supply of canes from both private farmers and the Corporation to feed the factory at full capacity will be a reality in 2012, GuySuCo assured.
In an earlier release, the Corporation had indicated that an agreement had been reached with the contractor of the factory, CNTIC, where all the remaining defects will be corrected by January 2011, with the exception of the number one boiler which is scheduled for completion by June 30th next year.
Within the last few months, GuySuCo and new Skeldon factory have come under fire for low production and continuing technical problems at the facility.
With a number of strikes and little cash, the beleaguered state-owned company has been finding the going tough with the unions ordering its members back to work last week after a countrywide week-long strike crippled operations.
To compound matters now, GuySuCo’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim said yesterday, the rains have come.
While workers attendance crept up from around 45% to the mid-50s this week, it will not be enough to meet the targeted 264,000 tonnes of sugar, an adjusted one at that, that GuySuCo has been looking to produce this year.
Production across this country this week may be a miserly 6,500 tonnes. With GuySuCo closing operations on December 24 for the holidays, it may take a bit of a struggle to even reach 240,000 tonnes .
As of yesterday, the country’s production to date was a lowly 206,000. With just over three weeks to go, the industry may barely reach or squeeze past last year’s production which also stood at a dismal 233,000 tonnes.
According to Bhim, the Demerara estates are suffering with the current rains. The Corporation’s bell loader is unable to operate because of conditions while the Berbice estates are better off.

Latest News

Sugar production “well below budgeted figures”

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Team Guyana ready to take on Haiti and Cayman Islands FIBA 3×3...

Timehri Hustlers dispatch Tiger Bay as Gold is...

Windies Masters announce squad for Americas Cup

Stormy Victory, Morning Colors stepping up for...

Region 7 Edition of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana...

Vergenoegen Secondary sweeps Region Three...

Features/Columnists

Raises and Recognition

High-Stakes Bid for OAS Secretary General post

Laws and boards

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Sugar production “well below budgeted figures”

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]