Daijiworld Media Network – Dharbandora
Dharbandora, Nov 14: In a fresh bid to revive the long-defunct Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (SSSK) – Goa’s only sugar factory that has remained closed since 2019 – the State government has announced a comprehensive redevelopment plan worth Rs 130 crore under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The government has floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting bidders to modernise the factory and significantly scale up operations. As per the proposal, the redesigned plant must have a minimum crushing capacity of 3,500 tons of cane per day (TCD), alongside a 75 KLPD ethanol distillery, an ENA bottling unit, and even a petrol pump within the premises.
According to the RFP, the Directorate of Agriculture aims to redevelop the plant on a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) basis. “The intention is to shortlist suitable bidders through a transparent, competitive process to carry out the full redevelopment of the SSKL facility,” the document states.
A total of 2,40,000 sq metres of land has been earmarked for the project. Bidders have been given time until January 6, 2026, for online submissions and January 8, 2026, for physical submissions.
Sugarcane Sector Under Strain
Currently, sugarcane cultivation in Goa covers around 550 hectares, yielding about 60,000 tons annually. Before operations ceased in 2019, the factory supplemented its needs by sourcing cane from neighbouring States.
Repeated attempts to revive the unit have however failed. In 2022, both bidders who applied during the RFQ stage were disqualified; in 2024, no bidders came forward at all.
The shutdown of SSSK has deeply impacted the farming community. More than 700 sugarcane farmers have been left in limbo for over four years. Many have since shifted to alternative crops, while others have drastically reduced or fully abandoned sugarcane cultivation due to uncertainty surrounding the mill’s revival.
With the new proposal and updated feasibility study, the State hopes to align Sanjivani’s future with global sugar market demands, including production of high-value sugar varieties and ethanol, offering a renewed ray of hope to Goa’s distressed farming sector.