Lautoka Mill Breakdown – Status Update

Lautoka- Operations at the Fiji Sugar Corporation Ltd (FSC) Lautoka Mill are set to resume today following the successful and rapid completion of emergency repair works at the boiler station.

On Saturday, 15 June, a tube leak was detected in the boiler’s furnace back wall, prompting an immediate shutdown of crushing operations to ensure safety and prevent further damage. Steam systems were taken offline shortly after, allowing repair crews to mobilise without delay.

Despite a challenging week marked by low cane supply and mechanical fluctuations across several stations, FSC’s engineering and maintenance teams responded with urgency and precision. Over the weekend, they completed:

– Replacement of the damaged boiler tube

– Installation of a new over-fire fan auto transformer

– Upgrades to the relay feedback unit for DCS control

These critical repairs were executed within 48 hours by the technical and engineering team.

The boiler is currently being lit, and crushing operations are on track to resume by 6:00 p.m. today, Monday, June 16, 2025.

FSC also took proactive steps to support affected stakeholders during the downtime. With over 70 lorries queued in the yard and 19 more in the stockpile, the mill team assisted in transporting drivers home on Saturday evening, ensuring their comfort and safety.

Chief Executive Officer Mr Bhan Singh praised the collective response:

“The start of the season is usually a challenging period; technical and mechanical issues that are identified in the first 10 days of operations need to be sorted, and some mill stoppages are inevitable. We thank our growers, stakeholders, and partners for their patience and continued trust as we move forward together.”

All departments remain on standby to ensure a smooth and sustained restart, with a renewed focus on operational stability and service delivery to growers.