THE Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd (FSC) has rejected claims by the National Farmers Union (NFU), saying no sugar has been lost during the recent disruption of operations at the Lautoka Mill.
FSC chief executive officer Bhan Singh said all harvesting gangs were informed in advance of the scheduled shutdown, and the mill yard was cleared to safeguard personnel and equipment.
“On Thursday, June 19, 2025, a routine inspection detected a leak in one of the mill boiler tubes,” Mr Singh said.
“To conduct a full hydrostatic pressure test and carry out necessary repairs, a controlled shutdown was scheduled to commence at 8am on June 21, 2025.
“All harvesting gangs were notified in advance, and the yard was cleared to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment.”
He said that during the 36-hour maintenance window, additional tube failures were uncovered under pressure testing.
“To ensure the continued integrity and operational safety of the boiler system and to prevent more extensive unplanned failures, the shutdown period was extended to complete comprehensive tube replacements and subsequent retesting.”
Mr Singh said FSC’s Cane Logistics manager had maintained regular contact with the Cane Lorry Association and issued updates to allow growers and transport operators to adjust accordingly.
He added the first 10 days of theseason are used to detect dormant mechanical faults.
Repairs were expected to be completed by midnight yesterday, with milling to resume immediately.
