At 73 days since the start of the sugar harvest in Santiago de Cuba, the Dos Ríos mill, located in the municipality of Palma Soriano and the only one responsible for producing raw sugar in the province during this campaign, has barely fulfilled 13 percent of the anticipated 20,811 tons.
The startup of the factory was delayed by more than 20 days due to a lack of resources for the commissioning of the machinery. When milling finally began, it did so with low efficiency, .
Luis Blanco Domínguez, General Director of the Agroindustrial Sugar Company Dos Ríos, explained to the official Cuban News Agency that the situation is due to multiple issues: difficulties with cane harvesting in the surrounding areas (San Luis, Mella, and Contramaestre); transportation problems, especially with rail transport; and a deficit in both manual and mechanized cutting, affecting around 40% of the cane volume to be processed.
In addition, there are breakdowns in the purification area, where the essential steam for the sugar crystallization process is generated. Currently, the factory is producing three times more syrup than expected, due to the lack of adequate steam.
According to the mentioned source, to reverse the situation, experienced sugar producers from nearby municipalities were called in, and it is expected that the steam flow will improve thanks to a transformer that will be enhanced from Contramaestre.
Despite the significant delay, the mill remains committed to producing 5,000 tons of crude for the regulated family basket before May 30, as stated by Blanco Domínguez.
But the reality is that as the harvest progresses, the prospects of reaching the planned targets seem increasingly distant, leaving the sugar sector at a crossroads that demands immediate solutions.
A landscape marked by structural crisis
The 2024-2025 sugar harvest in Santiago de Cuba has been marked by: a deficit of fuels and lubricants; restrictions in the National Electric System; frequent breakdowns in machinery, and harvests affected by the lack of equipment in collection centers.
In March, Yaritza Ravelo Vázquez, director of Information and Communication at the company, during a visit, the President of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo Hernández, demanded "greater rigor, order, and control" in a sector deemed strategic for the Cuban economy.
Despite the critical situation, executives at the mill assure that they will not give up on fulfilling the plan, although they admit that it will require extraordinary effort amid a context of shortages, energy crisis, and material shortages affecting the country.
Sugar crisis in Cuba
In January, the sugar harvest in Cuba was experiencing one of its worst crises: of the 14 mills expected for the campaign, only six were operational.
This critical situation was attributed to the late start and the failure to incorporate eight sugar mills until that moment, which were responsible for 75% of the sector's productive debt.
The preparation of the industries to begin milling was severely impacted by a lack of resources. The energy crisis delayed repairs at plants, machining workshops, and cleaning centers, in addition to limiting the production of essential parts and components for the machinery.
It is worth recalling that the 2022-2023 sugar harvest confirmed the regime's predictions, and with its 350,000 tons of sugar, it became the worst harvest since 1898, when, during the War of Independence, the sugar mills in Cuba produced 300,000 tons.
This data confirms the brutal decline of a sector that once placed the island among the world's leading sugar exporters.
In December 2023, the government acknowledged that it is "shameful" for the country, traditionally one of the leading sugar producers in Latin America, to be forced to import this product.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sugar Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
What is the current situation of the Dos Ríos sugar mill in Santiago de Cuba?
The Dos Ríos mill has only met 13% of the planned raw sugar production. Despite efforts to improve the situation, the mill faces structural and logistical issues that complicate the achievement of the planned targets.
What are the main causes of the sugar crisis in Santiago de Cuba?
The crisis is due to a lack of resources, transportation issues, and deficiencies in machinery. Additionally, there is a deficit in sugarcane cutting and issues with the generation of steam necessary for sugar crystallization.
What measures are being taken to improve sugar production at the Dos Ríos mill?
Experienced sugar workers from nearby municipalities have been called in, and an improvement in steam flow is expected. However, the context of shortages and the energy crisis continues to be a significant challenge for achieving production goals.
How does the current situation of the sugar harvest compare to earlier periods in Cuba?
The 2022-2023 sugar harvest was the worst since 1898, with only 350,000 tons of sugar produced. This reflects a significant setback in a sector that historically established Cuba as one of the leading sugar exporters in the world.
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