Brazil sugar group Raizen suspends operations at its plant following fire on canefields

Raizen, Brazil's largest sugar and ethanol manufacturer, said that since Thursday industrial operations had been suspended at its Santa Elisa facility in Sao Paulo due to fires around the plant.

It said that it was forced to evacuate its workers from one of the largest plants in the country on Thursday because of the fires. The company has yet to be able to resume operation as there have been other fires reported. The company said there were no injuries.

Raizen, world's biggest sugarcane processor did not reveal the production capacity of its plant. It is one of more than 30 that it owns. However, a few of them are not currently in operation.

Fires broke out again on Friday, despite the company's claim that authorities brought it under control on Thursday.

Raizen stated that "industrial operations will resume as soon as our employees are safe."

According to a statement released by Raizen on Thursday, the fire also affected the biomass storage area and certain equipments. The company did not give any details about the equipment affected.

This year, there are more fires in cane fields in Brazil because of the very dry conditions that have been present for months with only a few rains or none at all.

Datagro consultancy reported that the number of fires was 60% higher than the same period last year.

The fires can also delay the planting of new crops in fields that have already been harvested.

(source: Reuters)