THE Fiji Sugar Corporation has admitted that soot emitted from the Rarawai mill is a concern and potential health risk for farmers and families residing in the immediate mill area.
CEO Graham Clark made the comment during the National Sugar Industry Policy consultation in Ba this week.
“When I arrived in Fiji, I couldn’t believe how much soot was being emitted, like you said, they’d been saying for years that it would be fixed but nothing happened,” he said.
“So what I’m pleased to say is work that has started in upgrading that boiler now will include addressing the soot issue in the boiler and while it won’t be perfect, it’ll be much better than before.”
Mr Clark was responding to concerns from the community raised by Ba farmer Khalid Ali. Mr Ali claimed soot emitted from Rarawai was evidence that the mill was very inefficient.
“The soot coming from the mill has been an ongoing problem and recently it has become a big problem,” he said.
“It gets in your eyes and if you’re asthmatic, it becomes a problem, so you need to address this.”
