Sugar Mills Under Maintenance Observation by Indian Experts
Mr Singh said the expert would allow the local maintenance team to understand the faults that could be sorted as the season progressed.
Friday 28 June 2024 | 12:33
An inside view of the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Labasa mill. Photo: Sampras Anand
The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) mills in Ba and Lautoka are under maintenance observation by the Indian expert following their initial visits.
Minister for Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Charan Jeath Singh said the boiler expert took charge of the assessment of the boiler areas at both mills.
Mr Singh said the initial visit was to understand the maintenance needs during the start of the crushing season.
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The crushing season started on June 13 for Labasa Mill, Lautoka Mill on June 5 and Rarawai Mill on June 19.
“I think the boiler expert will return this week and come back to Fiji for a second round of assessment mid-July or early August,” he said.
The second round of assessment would be a critical time when the mill usually experiences faults in the boiler, this gives the expert a chance to help us learn to improve our maintenance.
Mr Singh said the ministry secured the services of the experts without any fees.
He secured their services after visiting mills in India.
Mr Singh said the expert would allow the local maintenance team to understand the faults that could be sorted as the season progressed.
“He has identified some boiler issues to the ground team in Fiji and has gone back.”
Mr Singh emphasised on the need for green plants to be transported to the mill instead of burnt cane.
“Green plants give more weight in terms of sugar production while the burnt cane has a minimal output,” he said.
For Labasa mill, the recent development prior to crushing season was the installation of the boiler dust collection which addressed the air pollution.
Government catered for the accommodation and airfares of the overseas experts.
Mr Singh has explored the option to engage a Thailand-based mill maintenance team to come to Fiji for mill inspections.
The cost associated with their charges for inspection amounted to around $250,000 after they provided a quotation.
Mr Singh added once these underlying factors such as mill breakdown is solved they would be able to save time and ensure efficiency of sugar production.
Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj
