Adrian Frater and
Anthony Davis
, Staff ReportersWESTERN BUREAU:
THE LONG Pond Sugar Factory in Trelawny is to remain out of operation indefinitely as officials of the Sugar Company of Jamaica (SCJ) and the management of the factory probe the explosion which rocked the facility on Thursday.
The explosion resulted in the death of one worker.
"Work has not resumed and there is no time-table for a resumption at this time," said SCJ President and CEO Living-ston Morris. He was speaking after yesterday's top-level meeting at the factory between SCJ officials and the estate's management.
WORK RESUMPTION
"Our focus at this time is towards providing comfort for the family of the worker we lost as well as seeing about the medical care of the other worker who was injured," said Mr. Morris. "It would not be appropriate to be discussing matters relating to a work resumption or losses at this time."
Kajel Insang, a 23-year-old factory technician, was killed in Thursday's explosion. The blast occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. in a section of the factory which houses a turbine used in the production of sugar.
Another worker was seriously injured in the accident which partially destroyed machinery crucial to the factory's operation.
CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
"We will be pulling down the Knife Turbine block by block to ascertain the reason for the explosion," said Aston Smith, vice-president of operations for both the Frome Sugar Factory and Long Pond. Speaking to The Gleaner prior to yesterday's meeting he said, "Work at the factory is unlikely to resume until we are absolutely certain of cause of the explosion."
But despite the time that will be lost as a consequence of the investigation into the incident and the time it will take to effect repairs to the damaged turbine, Mr. Smith does not envisage any adverse effect on the production target set for Long Pond this year.
"The target for this year's sugar crop was set at 13,500 tonnes and I don't believe this incident will affect that target," said Mr. Smith. "Once the investigations are completely and the repairs done, we should be up and running again."
