MORE than 14 tonnes of cane have been used to produce each tonne of sugar in the last five weeks ù the highest in national history.
In previous years an average 10 tonnes on cane have been used to produce on tonne of sugar - an internationally recognized figure for poor production.
This season the Fiji Sugar Corporation has crushed 382,000 tonnes of cane to produce 27,155 tonnes of sugar.
Figures compiled from records at the four mills show that the national tonnage of cane to tonnage of sugar ratio stood at 14.1 on July 26.
Penang Mill in Ra was the most successful facility crushing 74,000 tonnes of cane to produce 6852 tonnes of sugar for a TCTS of 10.8.
Lautoka Mill crushed 124,000 tonnes of cane in five weeks and produced 8985 tonnes of sugar for a TCTS of 13.8 while Labasa had a TCTS of 13.1 from crushing 113,000 tonnes of cane to produce 8549 tonnes of sugar.
The worst performing mill was Rarawai with a TCTS of 26 after crushing 72,000 tonnes of cane to produce 2769 tonnes of sugar.
Rarawai has operated on a stop-start basis for five weeks and stakeholders are expected to meet in Ba today to discuss solutions to mechanical difficulties with the mill's boilers.
FSC spokesman Samu Railoa said while the overall sugar yields recorded at respective mills mirrored the operation at the mill, it also provided a good indication about the quality of raw material that is processed.
The TCTS figure at Rarawai is understandably low with 60-70 per cwen capacity since the start of the season as it struggles to cope with the problems associated with steam generation.
The situation has been worsened by harvesting gangs that continue to harvest cane without quota. Cane harvested and lying in the field will dry up and the grower suffers from loss of weight.
The deteriorated quality of cane slows down its processing at the factory, affecting the quantity and quality of the sugar produced.
It should be noted that the TCTS ratio is improving with 12.90 over the last 24 hours.