Last night we told you about the situation at ASR/BSI - where the molasses which is a by product of sugar production had - basically - gone bad, due to a very unusual chemical reaction - one so unusual that it's never happened before. It's consequential because these molasses still have export value - and now that value is lost, plus there is a disposal problem. Today our colleagues at CTV - 3 found out more from the technical experts at BSI:
BSI Representative
"We are determined that the only material that had been compromised was the material that was inside the Number 1 Molasses Storage Tank. As soon as we were aware that the reaction was taking place, we moved quickly in an effort to try to remove that material from the tank in order to preserve the integrity of that tank. All the steps that were taken were done in an environmentally friendly manner to ensure that we do not compromise the environment in the process of removing that material from the Number 1 Tank. We also put cooling water on that tank to try to slow the rate of the reaction and then we were constantly monitoring the material inside that tank and we have determined that the reaction has been completed and therefore poses no threat at this point in time."
Reporter
"What methods can be enforced in order to ensure that this does not happen again? We know its the first time, but what is the company doing to ensure that it does not happen again for the next crop season?"
BSI Representative
"Well like I mentioned this was the first time that this occurred so with the current equipment that we have place we were unable to prevent the occurrence of this reaction. However, now that we know that it is a possibility that this can reoccur, we will be putting together a project proposal to install cooling equipment to cool down our molasses before storing it."
BSI Representative
"We have received suggestions from the department of the environment to use this material on the fields for irrigation, but based on our assessments we are finding that this may not be the most appropriate use of this material. It might cause more harm than good, so we are waiting for them once again with to join us with maybe disposing it in another form, in a pit far away from water contamination, from water sources."
The company is working with the department of the environment to manage the disposal of this batch of molasses - the volume of which still has not been ascertained.
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