eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer
A fire broke out at the Triangle Sugar Mill on Saturday afternoon, causing damage to two MVA transformers and adjacent electrical cabling feeding the diffuser line.
The fire was quickly contained and extinguished, with no injuries reported.
A video footage of the fire circulating on social media has caused some concern, with some believing that the entire factory had been engulfed in flames.
This is not the case.
The fire was localised to the transformer area and the rest of the factory remains undamaged, the company said in a statement.
Electricity was restored to the mill later that evening, and operations have resumed on one line. The second line is expected to be operational today (Wednesday) once a replacement transformer, which was already in stock, is installed.
Technical investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the transformer malfunction.
The company said the sugar industry has adequate stocks to meet both domestic and export market commitments and this incident is not expected to have any impact on supply.
“We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation as we work to restore operations to full capacity,” said the company.
Triangle is a major sugar processing facility in Zimbabwe, owned and operated by Tongaat Hulett, a South African sugar company.
Located in Chiredzi District, Masvingo Province, the mill has a crushing capacity of over 1.3 million tonnes of sugarcane per annum, making it one of the largest sugar mills in Zimbabwe.
Established in 1919, Triangle Sugar Mill has played a significant role in the Zimbabwean sugar industry, contributing significantly to the country’s export earnings and domestic consumption.
The mill’s produce, predominantly Hallett’s Sunsweet brand sugar, is widely distributed across Zimbabwe and exported to neighbouring countries.
In addition to sugar production, Triangle has diversified its operations to include ethanol production, generating over 30 million litres annually. This ethanol is used in the production many sugar related products.
The mill also engages in various social responsibility initiatives, supporting local communities through education, health and infrastructure development programs.
Triangle remains a vital asset to the Zimbabwean economy, providing employment opportunities, contributing to export earnings, and supporting the sugar industry’s growth and sustainability.
