The Rarawai Sugar Mill will be fixed in two months, says Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh.
Responding to an urgent question on how the Coalition plans to cater for the needs of cane growers affected by the closure of the mill because of damages caused by a fire, Mr Singh said the Fiji Sugar Corporation has assured the mill would be repaired on time.
“The damage is to an extent that we had to bring in experts from Australia to assess the mill’s damage,” he said.
“However, the CEO (Bhan Pratap Singh) and the team assured us they will get all the parts on time.
“They should be able to get the maintenance done and fix the mill within two months.
“We have already informed the insurance (company) and they have come in as well because the whole mill is covered by insurance.”
He said if the Rakiraki Sugar Mill was in operation today, the industry would be experiencing the current pressure on the Lautoka Sugar Mill where all cane growers between Sigatoka and Rakiraki are delivering their harvest.
“The problem now is we have a lot of incidences of arson in farms now and that is putting pressure on the Lautoka Sugar Mill to accept burnt cane on the shortest possible time.
“We have assured all of the farmers in all of the districts from Rakiraki to Ba that we will give priority to your cane on a two quota per farm on a daily basis.
“The Lautoka mill will be in operation, and we have assured the lorry drivers that their transport costs will be taken care of.”
