Panaji, Goa: The state government will soon issue a fresh tender inviting companies to take up the redevelopment of the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (SSSK) in Dharbandora, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Saturday, reported The Times of India.
Plans to redevelop the mill and establish an ethanol production unit under a public-private partnership (PPP) were first set in motion with a request for proposal (RFQ) issued in October 2022, and again in January 2024. However, both attempts failed to attract eligible bidders. While two companies showed interest during the first round, their proposals did not meet the required technical standards. The second round received no bids at all.
The government plans to carry out the project on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis. Through this model, suitable bidders will be shortlisted and invited to participate in a transparent and competitive bidding process to carry the project forward.
The decision to redevelop Goa’s only sugar mill, which is over 50 years old, was taken in May 2022. A 21-member Sugarcane Farmers Facilitation Committee, led by NRI commissioner and former MP Narendra Sawaikar, was formed to find ways to support sugarcane growers and guide the redevelopment.
The committee suggested a series of steps, including providing better support services to farmers, introducing high-yield sugarcane varieties, setting up a seed farm on the mill premises, modernising the mill, shifting focus from sugar to ethanol production, and encouraging jaggery-making units in nearby farming areas.
