Latest update December 21st, 2024 12:38 AM
US$12.5M Enmore packaging plant commissioned
– Guyana will earn 35% more than raw sugar
A state of the art sugar packaging plant at Enmore is expected to earn Guyana up to 35 per cent more on exports, officials say.
Up until the Guyana Sugar Corporation commissioned the Enmore Packaging Plant, yesterday, packaging was done on a limited scale at Blairmont—8,000 tonnes annually. The new plant is fully operational and it now has the capacity to package 40,000 tonnes annually for both the local and export market.
This increased packaging volume will lead to the company earning much more revenue when measured against the export of raw sugar to overseas markets largely because of added value, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Paul Bhim told a large crowd of workers and others at the commissioning.
Section of the Enmore Packaging Plant showcasing the mechanization of the sugar industry
He was at the time addressing the commissioning ceremony of the US$12.5M factory. Bhim noted that the facility takes into consideration increasing demand for Guyana’s packaged sugar, with the possibility of being improved to producing 80,000 tonnes annually.
Adding value
Bhim emphasized that GuySuCo’s ability to add value to its product represents a significant achievement in the corporation’s modernization programme and the industry’s turnaround plan.
“This facility takes into account future growth in the demand for our packaged sugar.”
Donald Ramotar, Director of GuySuCo, noted that adding value to sugar has been a dream of many Guyanese patriots.
He said that for many years the industry was confined to only producing raw sugar but in 1992 with the change in Government a different vision was crafted for GuySuCo.
The mechanization of this vital industry, which represents 16 percent of Guyana’s GDP, was envisaged so that value can be added to its produce and today the Enmore packaging plant is a “dream come true.”
Political Commitment
Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, said that the construction of the packaging facility represents Government’s commitment to the sugar industry and the welfare of workers and those thousands who indirectly depend upon the industry.
“This investment and project shows our firm commitment to overcoming challenges, our firm commitment to building a new sugar industry that we have talked about and is so necessary for Guyana sugar industry to survive the many challenges locally and externally,” Minister Persaud said.
Though significant strides have been made in the industry, there remains many challenges, primarily poor weather conditions, according to Dr. Nanda Gopaul, GuySuCo Chairman.
This has led to GuySuCo producing just over 90,000 tons of sugar this year. Although, short of the target for this crop, the corporation is optimistic that it will meet its target for 2011, Dr. Nanda Gopaul stated.
He called on the sugar workers in attendance to “put their shoulders to the wheel” in an effort to harvest enough cane to increase productivity this year.
“Project Gold”, name given for the project, was completed in April 2011 and involved upgrading the Enmore factory and the construction of the packaging plant.
Following a slashing of the sugar price by Guyana’s largest customer in Europe, the European Union had made available funding for a number of projects to help cushion the fallout which amounted to US$45M annually or a 36 per cent cut.
The construction of the packaging facility and modification to the existing Enmore factory were done by Surendra Engineering Corporation, an Indian company. The packaging facility is connected to the Enmore factory via an enclosed conveyor system.
Consumers would soon be buying their packaged sugar at their corner shops in sizes ranging from ½ kg, 1kg, 2kg, 25kg and 50 kg.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The GRA is batting out of its crease
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has once again demonstrated a perplexing propensity... more
Let the asylum seekers go: a first step for Venezuela to rebuild relations in the Americas
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – The government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela has steadfast support from many... more
Weekend Cartoon
