The Minister for Sugar, Charan Jeath Singh, announced during a consultation with farmers in Lautoka on Friday that a new sugar mill is set to be constructed in Rakiraki, reported Fiji Times.
As per media report, earlier Singh last year had said the proposed new sugar mill in Rakiraki would only produce ethanol and be operational throughout the year.
Singh revealed that the Ministry had conducted visits to several sugar mills in India and engaged in discussions about the mills and the sugar industry in Fiji. Emphasizing the commitment to address issues with the Rakiraki mill, he mentioned ongoing discussions with potential companies in India.
“We have spoken to a couple of companies in India, and we will give the information gathered back to the FSC board, and the board will analyze which company they will deal with to set up a new mill,” Singh explained. He further disclosed that one of the companies expressed interest in a joint venture and partnership, given their operation of four sugar mills in India.
The ministry intends to explore all available options and make a decision based on what is beneficial for the industry. When asked about the timeline for the new mill’s establishment in Rakiraki, Singh clarified that it would be a substantial facility capable of processing around 3000 tonnes of cane per day, equating to approximately 450,000 tonnes of cane over a five-month season. The details regarding the new mill have been conveyed to the FSC board, and the initiation timeline now rests with them.
