A rupture in one of the two boilers at the island’s lone sugar factory has resulted in an abrupt halt of the 2022 sugar cane harvest.
Canes were not cut and delivered to Portvale Sugar Factory since Saturday, April 2, costing crucial production time.
The mechanical issue also disrupted the grinding process.
However, the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC) was able to strike a deal with the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the Sugar Industries Staff Association (SISA) yesterday that would see employees working on Good Friday and Easter Sunday repairing the old equipment at the Blowers, St James factory. Sugar officials are hoping that will mean the more than 3 000 tonnes of cane in the factory yard could be milled on Saturday and Portvale could resume accepting canes.
Following the meeting, deputy operations manager of the factory, Marlon Munroe, told the DAILY NATION that the rupture of the number two boiler in the fireside of the combustion chamber caused water leakages in the furnace, which eventually caused the boiler to shut down.
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.
