Cane production for sugar and electric power in Jamaica

This study analyzes the technical and economic feasibility of using this new technology as a means of revitalizing the Jamaican sugar industry. The report concludes that the cane/energy technology can make the Jamaican sugar industry profitable and proposes that a pilot project be conducted at an existing sugar estate to further test the soundness of the approach. The pilot project will include: designating a 20,000-acre site; initiating a cane planting program on a 500-acre test site where workers and managers will be trained (cane planting will eventually be expanded to the full 20,000 acres); initiating an extension program for farmers; introducing new farming practices to double cane production and new harvesting techniques to recover field wastes for use as boiler fuel; retrofitting and improving milling facilities at the plant to process 4,500 tons of cane per day; and building a high-efficiency 25-45 megawatt power plant, to be fueled by bagasse and field wastes. Financial and economic analyses indicate a potentially high internal rate of return on pilot site investment; the project should increase employment and sugar production, provide large savings in imported oil costs, and generate a significant share of Jamaica"s electricity needs. Six figures, nine tables, and six appendices are included.