THE Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has rolled out major fire prevention and disaster resilience measures across its three mills following the Rarawai Mill fire in Ba earlier this year.
Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh told Parliament the incident was “a moment of reckoning for the industry” that triggered a full review and overhaul of safety systems.
“Following the lessons learnt from the unfortunate fire incident at Rarawai Mill, earlier this year, the Fiji Sugar Corporation has undertaken a comprehensive review in strengthening its fire prevention systems, operational contingency plans and disaster resilience infrastructure across all the three mills – Labasa, Lautoka and Rarawai,” he said.
He reminded Parliament that the mills were operating on 140-year-old infrastructure.
“Many of its technologies are long obsolete, and without continuous preventive maintenance and modernisation, the risk of failure and incidents will always remain.”
The FSC’s new framework includes a coordinated risk management approach, routine hazard assessments, stricter hot-work permit controls, fire safety upgrades, and annual inspections in collaboration with the National Fire Authority.
“These measures mark a significant improvement in FSC’s overall risk management culture.”
Mr Singh also confirmed site-specific contingency plans had been introduced for each mill to improve emergency response, with regular fire drills and training for workers.
Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma accused the ministry of negligence over the Rarawai fire, while Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya sought updates on physical works ahead of the cyclone season.
Mr Singh said maintenance teams were addressing both building structures and machinery upgrades.
“We are very concerned about it,” he said.
“Our sugar mill infrastructures will rise stronger, safer, smarter and more resilient.”
