MINISTER of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy has reported that the currently ongoing modification works at Skeldon Sugar Factory, Corentyne, Berbice, are due to be completed in the first week of February.
During an interview with the State Media in the Ministry’s Regent Road, Georgetown boardroom last Saturday, he

said the Skeldon Estate first crop for this year is expected to start later than the other estates due to the ongoing remedial work on the factory.
The South African firm, Bosch has been contracted to modify the factory and fix the problems it had been encountering.
The factory, commissioned in 2009, was being touted as the flagship of the sugar industry but, since it became operational, there have been a number of issues affecting its efficient functioning.
Nevertheless, it did have episodes of exceptional performance during periods of good weather conditions. However, the modifications are expected to make it even more efficient.
Ramsammy explained that the work being undertaken by Bosch includes modifying the bagasse and cane conveyers, among other things which will increase the efficiency and capacity of the factory from the present 60 percent to between 70 and 75 percent.

SOME CHALLENGES
The South African contractor was scheduled to begin working since November last year. But, due to some challenges experienced by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the second crop was prolonged until the end of December.
In addition, the minister said that adjustments to the punt dumper, which he attributed to a design flaw, is not part of the work that Bosch is doing. He noted, though, that GuySuCo has to undertake this task with its own cash flow.
He related that this will be a continuous exercise throughout the year and when that is finished, the factory’s efficiency should be boosted to about 85 to 90 percent.
Meanwhile, Ramsammy revealed that GuySuCo’s annual production target for this year has been set at 250,000 tonnes and he is urging the corporation to take advantage of the current dry weather for an earlier start of the crop.
He said he is hoping that, when operations start, the weather continues to be kind to the sugar industry.
“I want to urge GuySuCo because, for them, the present condition is good. When they needed this condition in late November and December, they didn’t have it, but, now at least, they have it. They’re not in operation now but they are in preparation, land preparation and so on. This is good weather conditions for them so they have no excuse,” he declared.