Lautoka mill needs more cane

Fiji's Lautoka Sugar Mill is facing a critical shortage of cane supply, prompting urgent calls from the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC), the Sugar Cane Growers Council, and the Sugar Industry Tribunal for increased deliveries. The organizations convened to review the situation and implement measures to support ongoing crushing operations.

The Lautoka Mill needs approximately 5,000 to 5,500 tonnes of cane per day to maintain normal operations. However, since the start of the season, daily deliveries have consistently fallen below 2,800 tonnes. This reduced supply is significantly impacting the mill's efficiency and its ability to sustain continuous crushing.

Industry leaders are appealing to cane growers, harvesting gangs, mechanical harvester operators, contractors, and transport operators to immediately prioritize the harvesting and delivery of cane to the mill. They emphasize that maintaining a steady cane supply is crucial for uninterrupted crushing and for safeguarding the interests of growers and the broader sugar industry.

The cane supply situation will be closely monitored over the next 10 days. Stakeholders are urged to collaborate to maximize deliveries during this period. Following this monitoring phase, the Sugar Industry Tribunal will assess the situation to determine the next steps regarding the future operations of the Lautoka Sugar Mill. The coming days are considered pivotal, and a sustained improvement in cane supply will be instrumental in guiding future decisions.