Minister for Sugar Charan Jeath Singh has assured residents in Labasa that the issue of black soot emitting from the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) mill will soon end.

He said a new machine had been purchased and was with the FSC mill for installation.

“We will install it once the crushing season ends to allow for maintenance,” he said.

“We are aware of the black soot that has emitted from the mill and residents complaining about it.

“But I assure the residents that this will be fixed as soon as the crushing season ends.”

The residents and business community have complained about the black soot found on their buildings and on clothes hanging outside.