Not exempt from difficulties, the 2022-2023 sugar harvest began in Ciego de Ávila due to the rupture of a valve in the Ciro Redondo bioelectric plant, which prevents the full operation of its two boilers and, therefore, stabilize an industrial exchange with the neighboring mill, necessary for the production of the sweet grain.

The success of the current dispute in Ciego de Ávila lands will largely depend on what happens in the factory, the most modern in the country, since its contribution represents about 75 percent of the plan, numbers that justify its nickname of the Colossus of the Center.

As Eduardo Larrosa Vázquez, director of coordination and technical supervision of Azcuba Sugar Group in the province, reported to Invasor, the sweetener factory began its tests in December on the established date, making molasses and sugar with a single bioelectric boiler until January 1, when they stopped the process to undertake the repair.

"The spare part for the damaged part arrived from China and work is underway at its installation to restart the harvest in Ciro Redondo in the next few days," he added.

At times like the present, the validity of the strategy of enlisting the Primero de Enero sugar mill in the event of unforeseen events of this type also stands out. This industry, located in the municipality of the same name, officially started on December 26 and has been grinding ever since, despite not having a production plan.

The factory already produces its first tons of sugar in the current sugar campaign on January 1st, where Anabel...

For its part, the central Ecuador refinery —Larrosa Vázquez said — gave its initial whistle on December 30 (six days before the scheduled date), to also contribute to recovering the province's delay.

The manager commented that it is expected that, in the coming days, after the incorporation of the Coloso of the Center, the three mills will grind, with a view to cutting the debt with the sweetener production plan before the end of January.

In Ciego de Ávila, 777,211 tons of cane must be milled to produce 54,562 tons of sugar, according to reports in the Provincial Council for the month of November, when the first synchronization tests between the plant and the bioelectric plant were announced.