Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 20, 2013 News
… Skeldon misses by 40,000 tonnes
By Leon Suseran
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) estates in the East Berbice area—Albion, Rose Hall and Skeldon —all fell miserably short of their targets in 2012. This information was recently revealed by the Region 6 Chairman David Armogan. The estates, combined, produced a staggering 56 per cent in the overall national production of the industry.
Skeldon produced 33,307 tonnes of its target of 44,491 tonnes, while Albion made 54,022 tonnes from its target of 63,775 tonnes. Rose Hall made 34,429 tonnes out of a target of 37,089 tonnes.
“Of a total target in the Region Six area of 135,355 tonnes, we made 121,758 tonnes—90 per cent of the production target and this translates to 56 per cent of total GuySuCo production for the year—218,054 tonnes”.
The Skeldon Sugar Factory on the Upper Corentyne has been making lots of headlines during last year after the effectiveness of its operations came under heavy scrutiny. This resulted in a visit and inspection of the ‘modern’ sugar processing facility by Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, who lashed out at critics about the state of the sugar facility.
“It’s the same factory almost after commission; some innovations were added to the factory, and these innovations have led to some significant impacts in production.”( Dr. Ramsammy said that last October no extra money had to be spent on improving the Skeldon Factory.(
“No capital investment was necessary. Whatever monies had to be spent on improving the factory was done within the normal stipulated budget.” He did not commit to a financial figure.( One of the innovations, he said, had to do with the cleanliness of the cane. The washing of the canes, he said, is now being done with water provided by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and is being done by professionals.
Another surprise was that in December 2012, Ramsammy announced to the Guyana Parliament that the Skeldon Sugar Factory was not 100 per cent operational; rather it was producing just over 50 per cent of its capacity. This statement contradicted what Ramsammy said during the visit and inspection of the factory in October.
“I don’t know, then, what is a white elephant, because this seems like a factory that is meeting its potential and indeed, we are certain that our next milestone will be reached,” the Minister said in October.
The Skeldon estate was designed to produce 110,000 tonnes of sugar per annum. In 2010, production was 33,237 tonnes and in 2011, production was 29,410 tonnes.
The US$200M facility is currently undergoing modifications and re-designing works by South African- based Bosch Engineering. The defects being fixed by Bosch are those related to the bagasse feeding system and the cane conveyor system. Installing a condensate tank and obtaining a clean water supply to the factory were also slated for the factory.
The Agriculture Minister said, in December, that an inadequate supply of sugar cane is one of the reasons why the factory is not operating at its full potential.( He said that an estimated 2,600 hectares remained to be brought into operation. Of this, 782 hectares are located within the estate property and 1,845 hectares belong to private farmers.
Bosch is being paid US$130,000 to design the modifications that are needed at the Skeldon plant.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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