Government to build whole-sugar mills worth RD$944.0M

Santo Domingo.- The Government will soon start construction on two small mills to produce whole sugar (panela) and plant around 1,900 hectares of sugarcane at a cost of RD$944.0 million, to relaunch the national sugar industry.

State Council of Sugar (CEA) director José Peña Dominguez made the announcement Wednesday in the National Palace, where he said the mills to be built in Monte Plata and Los Llanos (east) will cost RD$400.0 million each and that the Government will spend RD$144.0 million in planting.

He said plantation owners were paid RD$217.0 million last year and revealed "big" funding to resume the “massive” planting of cane.

He noted that individuals control 80 percent of the State-owned lands for planting sugar cane.

The official said the current harvest goes well, with 21,000 tons projected, with 10,000 sacks as of Wednesday. "The mill is grinding well and the plantation owners are happy."