MINISTER FOR Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has said the Komenda Sugar Factory is projected to undertake a production test run by the end of July 2022.
According to him, the factory is currently undergoing major retooling and repair works which is about 98% complete, adding that the installation of new pipeline to and from the plant to the molasses tank is 100% complete.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament yesterday, the minister indicated that refractories and lagging work in boiler furnaces and chimneys are 100% complete.
He stated further that vacuum and water testing at the boiler house had been completed, revealing that the boiler had started working while a steam pressure test was ongoing for the turbine to generate three megawatts of electricity.
“Equipment and machinery at the Mill House, Boiling House, Boiler and Powerhouse Sections have all been overhauled, repaired and components replaced where necessary,” he intimated.
Mr. Kyerematen added, “Raw sugar refining unit maintenance and spare parts replacing and refining, enhancing from 8-10 tons per hour to 16-20 tons per hour has been completed.”
He said electrical and instrumentation work with all the motors and the boiler section had been maintained and repaired, while construction of a new water reservoir of 2 million-litre capacity was completed.
He disclosed that the existing capacity was 150,000 litres only, and that sandblasting to remove rust and prevent further corrosion of equipment to maintain the integrity of all metal surfaces at the factory is completed.
The Trade and Industry Minister said the construction of a new chemical storage warehouse, a new canteen, new washrooms for both genders were ongoing, and added that a new warehouse for raw sugar jumbo bags of 1 ton to 5,000 tons capacity for the storage of sugar, was also ongoing.
“New baggage carrier platform construction work completed. Turbine for electricity production has been overhauled and is under production test. Mr. Speaker, with respect to civil works, the whole factory building, and warehouse have been re-roofed to stop leakages and corrosion,” he stated.
Mr. Kyerematen further said the raw material warehouse as well as the fencing of the factory were currently under construction.
“Four acres of nursery land has been prepared for the cultivation of sugarcane to support sugarcane development in the catchment area. There are further plans to expand it to 500 acres after the commencement of operations.
“In addition to the above, the board of the company is finalising negotiations with traditional authorities to secure about 20,000 acres of land required for the plantation development in Sekyere Obuasi and Sekyere Hemeng in the Wassa East District,” the minister disclosed.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House