Long Pond Sugar Factory reopens

Farmers throughout Trelawny will again be able to take their sugar cane to the Long Pond Sugar factory in the parish beginning today.

The plant was closed in 2009, to facilitate a multi-million US dollar modernisation programme.

Public Relations Manager for Everglades Farms Limited, Chris Hylton, said the crushing of the cane is scheduled to start tomorrow.

He said about 5,000 tonnes of cane from last year belonging mainly to small farmers will be reaped over a two week period.

In the meantime, Hylton said the company has installed one diesel generator and a steam turbine with a combined generating capacity of 1, 700 kilowatt of power to run the factory.

He said this will eliminate the factory's reliance on the Jamaica Public Service company and will result in savings of about $20 to$ 40 million.

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