Clark directed to look at reducing milling inefficiencies
FSC employees operate the A side cane carrier during the tipping of sugar cane at Lautoka Sugar Mill. Sugar Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan has directed Fiji Sugar Corporation CEO Graham Clark to seriously look at reducing milling inefficiencies in the 2020 crushing season. Picture: FILE/ BALJEET SINGH
SUGAR Ministry permanent secretary Yogesh Karan has directed Fiji Sugar Corporation chief executive officer Graham Clark to seriously look at reducing milling inefficiencies in the 2020 crushing season.
Mr Karan said the increasing TCTS (tonnes cane to tonne sugar) ratio over the past three years have been a concern.
Commenting on the general performance of the Labasa mill last year, Mr Karan said when compared with the past three years, TCTS was high, meaning a large volume of cane was needed to produce one tonne of sugar.
“So when the TCTS is not what is expected, there is a loss and even if we have to farm and produce more cane, we have to simultaneously produce more sugar and therefore, the miller has to lower this ratio,” he said.
“That has happened and we cannot revisit the past and also his (Mr Clark) explanations to the shortcomings of the mill need to be considered as we are running a 148-year-old machine.
“However, despite that, the same machine has also given us good results too in the past so this year I have told him, firstly, I do not expect more mill breakdowns like the ones we had last year and secondly they need to lower the TCTS ratio”.
Mr Karan said they needed to have preventative maintenance measures in place.
“We need to train staff, especially engineers so that they can handle the mill well.”
Mr Karan said the increasing TCTS (tonnes cane to tonne sugar) ratio over the past three years have been a concern.
Commenting on the general performance of the Labasa mill last year, Mr Karan said when compared with the past three years, TCTS was high, meaning a large volume of cane was needed to produce one tonne of sugar.
“So when the TCTS is not what is expected, there is a loss and even if we have to farm and produce more cane, we have to simultaneously produce more sugar and therefore, the miller has to lower this ratio,” he said.
“That has happened and we cannot revisit the past and also his (Mr Clark) explanations to the shortcomings of the mill need to be considered as we are running a 148-year-old machine.
“However, despite that, the same machine has also given us good results too in the past so this year I have told him, firstly, I do not expect more mill breakdowns like the ones we had last year and secondly they need to lower the TCTS ratio”.
Mr Karan said they needed to have preventative maintenance measures in place.
“We need to train staff, especially engineers so that they can handle the mill well.”