Grande Anse Sugar Refinery

Local Product - Grand-Bourg

Built in 1845, this refinery is one the island’s main economic drivers, producing 100,000 - 150,000 metric tons of sugar per year. Most of its activity takes place during the 100-day day period beginning with the sugar harvest in March. Plans are underway to add a power plant. The volume of cane expected for the 2019/2020 harvest should however be around 80 000 tonnes. But the sector comes back by far, because in 2013, after a record drop to 62,000 tons, a plan to revitalize production has helped restore confidence to planters. They then took over the maintenance of their plot and replanted. The goal is to reach 150,000 tons. The sole cannière at Marie-Galante is 1,800 hectares (while the potential is estimated at 2,300), and if the yield / hectare is recovered, it is not yet optimal. Today there are about 1,300 producers in Marie-Galante. They are also struggling to earn an income from their production mainly because of the cost of harvest, manual about 95% to Marie-Galante, and with a rare workforce. We must add the costs of lifting and transport. The cost of harvesting the field at the Marie-Galante plant is 35 to 38 € per tonne, compared to 20 € in mechanical cutting. Finally, the industrial tool, obsolete, will have to turn another 3 years without the thermal power plant, planned for 2022. To avoid repeated breakdowns, the sugar factory has invested over 700,000 euros, to secure the boiler and improve the mills. The mill announces a crushing capacity of 1,300 tonnes of cane per day.