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.