New sugar factory for Bibile

Irangika Range

The Government will start a sugar factory in Bibile, Wellassa shortly to fulfil the local sugar demand to manufacture 80,000 mt to 100,000 mt annually within the country.

The project will save nearly Rs.3.5 billion of foreign exchange spent on sugar imports.

Supplementary Plantation Crops Development Minister R.M.Dharmadasa Banda told the Daily News that the estimated cost for this project would be Rs.25 billion and the factory will be commence under a private partnership.

A massive infrastructure development will also take place in the area.

Initial steps have been already taken by the Ministry to commence the project soon.

He said that the approval of Environmental Authorities have been provided while the feasibility study is being implemented.

The Minister said 49,000 out of 96,000 acres have been recommended for the cultivation of sugarcane for the factory. Farmers have shown a special interest in this project. They will cultivate sugarcane in these lands.

He said that the proposed sugar factory has a capacity of grinding 5,000 mt of sugar per day. The proposed project has planned to provide a number of benefits for the development of social and economic states in the country.

The country can achieve an income of nearly Rs.10 billion additionally through producing of Ethanol as well. The factory has a possibility of producing 25 MW of electricity.

The factory will also provide 1,200 direct job opportunities while over 35,000 indirect employment opportunities are expected to be created.

He said several parties were spreading false rumours to the effect that it would harm Nilgala and Gal Oya catchment areas. "All these allegations are baseless, " the Minister said.