GMSA, GuySuCo resolve molasses shortage

Concerns being raised by members of the private sector regarding the unavailability of molasses on the local market, but the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has declared this matter “resolved”.
Speaking with the Guyana Times on Wednesday, GMSA Vice President Ramsay Ali indicated that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) was engaged with private sector officials in discussions on the issue.
“We have managed to sort that out with GuySuCo, and everything’s well and okay now. There was a shortage, but I think that now how GuySuCo understands what the market is, they’ve assured us that there won’t be any future shortages,” Ali said.
According to Ali, molasses is needed in Guyana by 10 large scale manufacturing companies who are dependent on the commodity for their production.
The discussions were facilitated by GMSA President Shyam Nokta, GuySuCo CEO Paul Bhim, and GuySuCo Commercial Manager of Ram Persaud.
This newspaper has been told that many agro-processing plants were facing difficulties and having the rate of their production affected by the unavailability of this commodity. At the convened meeting, GuySuCo’s CEO related that the storage facility at the Uitvlugt Estate and the closure of the other estates were the main issues affecting production of molasses. He added that there wasn’t any shortage of the commodity on the market. It was also highlighted that GuySuCo would supply 42 metric tons of molasses per month.
Downsizing of the sugar industry has faced criticism from many companies, including the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which has also complained about the move.
The three remaining estates – Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion – are projected to produce a total of 52,000 tonnes of molasses in 2018. However, DDL’s molasses requirement for 2018 only has been 70,000 tonnes.
Initially, the company had been exploring options, and was even contemplating importing molasses to sustain rum production to meet its increasing local and international demands.
As a long-term solution to this challenge, the company had submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) to NICIL and to Government for the potential purchase of the now closed Enmore Estate, to allow for a steady supply of molasses.
DDL had in March said it would be partnering with the SPU and Government to restart the Enmore Estate. Some 200 workers were rehired to start operations to produce molasses, and it was reported that over 190 cane harvesters had been employed to harvest some 4300 hectares of sugar cane at Rose Hall, to be used by Albion for the production of molasses.