Sugar Harvest Crisis: Omnicane Plant Failure May Extend Season into January 2026

The sugar cane harvesting season is at risk of being prolonged until January 2026 following a major technical fault at the Omnicane thermal power plant, industry stakeholders fear. The breakdown has severely disrupted the nation’s cane processing capacity, leading to a significant backlog.

The failure at the Omnicane plant, which also triggered a “red alert” on the Central Electricity Board (CEB) network last week, brought operations at the major southern mill to a standstill.

The crisis has prompted a reduction in production forecasts. Jacqueline Sauzier, Secretary General of the Chamber of Agriculture, is anticipating that this year’s sugar output will fall to an estimated 220,000 tonnes, down from 225,000 tonnes produced during the last season.

In a bid to prevent the harvest from dragging into January, discussions are underway to secure approval from the Control Board for the transfer of cane to other processing mills, Ms Sauzier confirmed.

Meanwhile, both planters and sector workers have voiced anxiety over the potential extension of the season. They are demanding prior consultation before any official decision on the matter is taken.

Source: Defi Media