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SUGAR CANE REFINING
Raw cane sugar
The manufacture of edible sugar from sugarcane and sugar beet
varies considerably around the world, with nearly three-quarters
of all sugar now consumed derived from cane. Brown raw cane sugar is produced in cane sugar factories in tropical countries
and, traditionally, the surplus left over from domestic consumption was shipped to other countries, often for refining into white sugar.
As technology and loading facilities improved, bags of raw cane sugar were replaced by bulk transport in ships of a few thousand tonnes capacity. Nowadays, cargoes for refining can be up to 45,000 tonnes and discharging rates may be 1,000 tonnes per hour, by cranes or continuous unloaders.
Demand for refined sugar
In many cane sugar producing countries, domestic consumers
are no longer content with the brown, light brown or slightly
yellow sugars produced from cane sugar factories. Moreover,
industrial customers, particularly in the soft drinks and
pharmaceutical sectors, demand high-grade refined sugar for
their increasingly sophisticated manufacturing processes. As
consumers’ aspirations progress towards a greater variety of
purer sugars, many raw sugar factories are adding the required
refining capability to their operations. In some countries where
there are several raw sugar factories, it can be a financially better
option to produce refined sugar in a stand-alone refinery using
raw sugar from the factories.
Sometimes, a hybrid, where
the refinery is situated at one
of the factory sites, may be a
better option due to the
availability of shared utilities.
In countries that have either a
small domestic cane sugar
industry to supply raw sugar, or no raw sugar industry at all, the
importation of raw cane sugar for refining at a large stand-alone
facility is usually the most cost-effective arrangement.
Progressing from concept to reality
The design of a new or upgraded stand-alone refinery or ‘white
end’ of a factory, is a complicated balance of a number of often conflicting
requirements such as cost, siting and market
requirements. Often, it is appropriate to offer a staged expansion
pathway where the client is able to begin the refinery with a modest
capital investment, in the knowledge that future expansions can
be realised once markets have been established and financing is
easier, without impacting on the initial installation.
Once the design is agreed, the project construction, plant
installation, personnel selection and training and plant
commissioning need to be managed. Lastly, the total operation
itself needs careful ongoing management in order to maximise
efficiency and output, minimise operating costs, optimise market
penetration and produce a satisfactory return on capital.
Professional assistance
Booker Tate has considerable experience in the refinery sector
and can provide expertise and services ranging from feasibility
studies, strategic planning and finance-raising, through project development and engineering contract management to long-term operational management.
Booker Tate’s technical services can range across engineering, process, production, packaging, environment, quality and health and safety activities. Operational management can be at company executive, management and plant level.