Skeldon Factory Production Exceeding Targets

Media operatives were given a tour of the Skeldon Sugar Factory, Region 6 on Saturday, during which the factory’s progress  was highligtedand by Agricullture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and the  management team lauded for innovations  implemented to improve the factory’s capability.

Minister Ramsammy indicated that between the period July 1,  2011 to  June 31, 2012, sugar farmers in Region 6 produced 160,000 tonnes of cane, and it is hoped that for the period June 1, 2012 to June 31, 2013 that private cane farmers will be able to produce 170,000 tonnes of cane for the Skeldon Factory.

He pointed out that the factory has been described as many things however, from the Government and GUYSUCO’s perspective,  the factory will be the one that leads Guyana’s aspiration to reach and exceed a production of 400,000 tonnes per year, despite the critics  saying that such production is a utopian dream.

Since the factory’s commissioning in 2009, it is now demonstrating its potential.

Minister Ramsammy recalled nay-sayers describing the factory as a ‘white elephant’ however, after touring the facility he called on the public to have faith in the personnel manning it.

He acknowledged that the factory had major work done by international partners and that it had to go through some innovations that are on-going. “These additional innovations have led Skeldon to the point it is today… in the last week,  in the history of the factory for the time it exceeded a production of 2500 tonnes (weekly),” the Minister stated. One of the innovations addresses the cleanliness of the cane.

He added that the achieved amount is more than twice  what the old factory was capable of producing.

By the end of Saturday, production had exceeded 13000 tonnes for this crop and is approaching 20,000 tonnes for the year so far. This year’s  target is 34,000 tonnes.

The target for this crop is approximately 27,000 tonnes hence an additional 14,000 tonnes is needed; the same quantity also required to meet the year’s targeted production.

Once the additional 14,000 tonnes is achieved, the Skeldon Factory would exceed the targets for the current and annual crops.

There are about 9 to 11 weeks remaining for this crop

“I don’t know what then is the definition of a white elephant because this seems like a factory that is meeting its potential,” Minister Ramsammy said.

He declared his certainty that the next milestone, other than the 34,000 tonnes, will be a production of 50,000 tones, and hopefully by 2016 in the turn around plan,  the factory will be able to surpass 100,000 tonnes.

With regards to the additional $4B invested in the design modification of the factory, Minister Ramsammy noted that BOSH Engineering is currently doing off site work.

Minister Ramsammy  expressed his gratitude to the workers, who despite the challenges, have done a marvellous job.

He noted that prior to him becoming the Minister of Agriculture he had heard a lot being said about the local management, nevertheless they have demonstrated that they are capable of running it.

Guyanese have taken control of the factory and are making the necessary changes, the Minister highlighted.

Skeldon factory does not have a lot of  employees because much of its functioning is automated and is consistently monitored.

He also highlighted criticisms regarding the non-operation of the cogeneration plant which is currently generating 11mega watts, and is close to meeting 90 percent of its capacity. The plant  is intended to generate energy for the national grid and it is hoped that by next year it will be able to generate in excess of 20 mega watts.

These achievements demonstrate that GUYSUCO’s mandates and government’s vision of 400,000 tonnes and contributing energy to the national grid are reachable targets.

Most of the sugar (bulk) produced at Skeldon is exported to Caricom countries and Europe while Blairmont’s  production  goes towards meeting  10,000 tonnes of packaged sugar..

Factory Manager, Deodat Ompertab explained that three years ago the design issues were recognised and the management set about reectifying the problems affecting the factory’s production; one being the increase of grinding hours to 130 and washing of the cane prior to  processing.

He highlighted that the new innovations have resulted in the factory producing at least 300-400 tonnes of sugar in 24 hours. The innovations to the factory were done by professionals working at the factory and existing materials were used. This did not generate additional capital cost since the work was part of the factory’s operational cost.

With regards to the cogenerating plant which used a certain amount of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to maintain a specific generation capacity, it now depends on the steam generation from the bagasse so  less HFO is used and  this contributes to cost reduction.