The Komenda Sugar Factor is set to undergo a production test run by the end of July this year after repair works and retooling is completed.
Works are currently at 98% complete.
To ensure adequate raw material for a test run and subsequently production, four acres of nursery land have been prepared for the cultivation of sugarcane to support sugarcane development in the catchment area.
Plans are underway to expand it to 500 acres after the commencement of operations while the Board of the company is also finalizing negotiations with traditional authorities to secure about 20,000 acres of land required for the development of sugarcane plantations in Sekyere Obuasi and Sekyere Hemeng in the Wassa East District.
Minister for Trade and Industry, Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen, disclosed this in Parliament on Tuesday when he responded to a question on the state f the Komenda Sugar Factor filed by Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi Yusif Sulemana.
He disclosed that the company has undergone major works that have been completed or is at final stages of completion.
The completed works include installation of a new pipeline to and from the plant to the molasses tank; refractories and lagging work in boiler furnace and chimneys; vacuum and water testing at boiler, which has started while working and steam pressure test is ongoing for Turbine to generate power of 3 MW electricity output.
Equipment and machinery at the Mill House, Boiling House, Boiler and Powerhouse sections have all been overhauled, repaired and components replaced where necessary while maintenance on the raw sugar refining unit and spare parts replacing and refining, enhancing from 8-10 tons per hour to 16-20 tons per hour has been completed.
Other completed works include electrical and instrumentation work and repair and maintenance of all the motors and the boiler section; construction of a new water reservoir of 2 million-litre capacity from the existing 150,000 litres; and sandblasting to remove rust and prevent further corrosion of equipment to maintain the integrity of all metal surfaces at the factory.
A new baggage carrier platform has also been completed, the turbine for electricity production overhauled and undergoing production test.
The ongoing works are the construction of a new chemical storage warehouse, new canteen and new washrooms for both genders; construction of a new warehouse for raw sugar jumbo bags of 1 ton to 5000 tons capacity for the storage of sugar.
He indicated that the entire factory building and warehouse have been re-roofed to stop leakages and corrosion.