Arabi, Louisiana: American Sugar Refining, Inc. (ASR Group), the world's largest cane sugar refiner, broke ground on May 5 on the first phase of a $785 million modernisation project at its Domino Sugar Chalmette Refinery in Arabi, Louisiana, marking one of the largest capital investments in the 117-year-old facility's history, Axios reported.

The first phase of the project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art filtration building at an initial investment of more than $200 million. The broader $785 million programme is expected to create 15 permanent jobs and 50 construction positions in St. Bernard Parish, according to local officials quoted by WGNO.

Luis Fernandez, President of ASR Group, said the investment was aimed at modernising operations and improving reliability for customers while also reducing the facility’s energy and water consumption. “This project reflects our commitment to modernize operations, enhance reliability for our customers and conserve water and energy - all while continuing to be the employer of choice for hundreds of people in the area,” he said. “This incredible project represents a significant capital investment and shows our commitment to Louisiana.”

The new filtration building will deploy the latest processing technology to reduce throughput times and improve operational efficiency. It has also been designed to meet current flood codes, protecting critical production infrastructure against weather-related disruptions and securing the long-term viability of the plant and its workforce.

The Chalmette Refinery is the largest sugar refinery in the Western Hemisphere and currently employs 535 people. Each year, more than 200 barges and numerous trucks deliver over 750,000 tons of raw sugar to the plant, which refines more than 6 million pounds of sugar per day across 32 packaging lines producing 70 different products and package sizes. The facility has been a leading employer and taxpayer in St. Bernard Parish for over a century.