Fiji Sugar Corporation has formally opened a call for Expressions of Interest to design and build a new, high-tech sugar mill in Fiji, signaling a bold step in the country’s push to modernize its sugar sector. The advertisement notes the project would target a crushing capacity of 10,000 tonnes of cane per day, a scale that would position Fiji among the region’s more capable processing facilities.
While the public notice does not specify the site, the government has indicated Rakiraki as a preferred location for the new mill. The FSC is inviting qualified investors, developers, sugar-technology providers, and strategic partners to participate, with an emphasis on innovative processing lines and integrated by-product systems designed to boost energy efficiency and agricultural sustainability.
The proposed complex would encompass comprehensive main operations—pretreatment, crushing, processing, crystallisation, drying, and packaging—along with essential support infrastructure including a boiler house, a co-generation power plant, repair workshops, laboratories, warehouses, and pumping stations. A key feature of the project is the by-products utilization plan: molasses would feed ethanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production, filter mud would be redirected into organic fertilisers, and bagasse would power steam generation and electricity through cogeneration.
The FSC also signaled openness to joint financing arrangements and invited interested parties to visit the project site to better understand opportunities for collaboration. All Expressions of Interest are due by September 30, 2025.
Context and broader implications
This call for EOIs aligns with Fiji’s broader drive to revive and modernize its sugar industry, following years of aging infrastructure and fluctuating cane supply. Earlier discussions around a modernization program have contemplated a range of options, including consolidating to a single, modern mill to improve efficiency and reduce maintenance burdens. Some scenarios have considered sites in Ba or Rakiraki, with capacities estimated in the 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes-per-day range and project costs around $250 million. There have been talks of reusing existing mill sites to control costs, as well as exploring joint ventures with international partners, including Chinese firms, to fund and implement the upgrade.
Past reporting has also highlighted other pathways, such as acquiring a second-hand mill from China as a cost-saving alternative, and the possibility of a site near the old Rakiraki mill or a flood-safe location in Ba, depending on feasibility. These discussions reflect a broader strategy to diversify outputs beyond refined sugar, embracing ethanol, SAF, biomass energy, and enhanced by-products utilisation as routes to higher-value revenue and greater sector resilience.
What to watch for next
– Cabinet considerations and feasibility studies for site selection and project design.
– Details of potential joint ventures or financing terms with international partners.
– Timelines for procurement, construction, and commissioning, and how cane supply will be secured to sustain a 10,000 tpd facility.
– Continued emphasis on sustainability, climate resilience, and the environmental footprint of the new mill, including water management and logistics improvements for cane delivery.
Positive outlook
If realized, the new sugar mill could anchor Fiji’s rural economies, reduce dependence on imports for refined sugar, and expand revenue streams through ethanol, SAF, and cogenerated energy. The project signals a proactive, technology-driven restructuring of Fiji’s sugar sector, with international collaboration and modern farming practices playing a central role in delivering more stable, long-term gains for farmers, workers, and the wider economy.
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