Chervonensky Sugar Plant

The history of the Chervonensky Sugar Plant dates back to 1870, when it was founded by Count Grokholsky. Soon after, it was acquired by sugar industrialist Tereshchenko. The production season at the time lasted 99 days, and in 1881, the plant processed 215,473 poods of sugar raw material. By 1936, its production capacity was 1,200 metric centners, with sugar beets supplied by both agricultural enterprises and private individuals. In the early 20th century, the plant produced 240 tons of sugar in 1917, 386 tons in 1918, and 31,909 poods by 1920.

In 1957, the plant underwent major modernization. New lime kilns, a diffusion battery, and steam engines were installed, increasing the plant’s capacity to 2.5 times its pre-revolutionary levels. Beet processing and juice purification departments were built, along with a steam boiler running on liquid fuel, and a washing system for unloading beets from railway wagons. Over 200 workers were replaced by mechanization and automation.

The plant continued to upgrade its operations throughout the 1970s. In 1970, a 7,000 kW AEG turbine was installed, and the plant was connected to the national electrical grid. In 1975, outdated boilers were replaced with three new steam boilers, and a turbo unit was installed. By 1978, automatic centrifuges increased the plant’s capacity to 1,660 tons of beets per day, and in 1979, the old diffusion system was replaced with a continuous KDA-25-66 diffusion unit.

Further modernization occurred between 1981-1984, with upgrades to vacuum apparatuses, second product centrifuges, first saturation disc filters, and evaporators. This increased the plant’s output, reduced sugar production costs, and improved working conditions.

From 1985-1990, improvements in raw material handling and storage were made, along with the installation of a steam boiler for heating the plant and nearby residential areas. The plant also introduced employee meal programs for night shift workers.

In 1993-1994, the drying department was reconstructed, additional sugar storage warehouses were built, and a compressor station was installed. The plant switched to natural gas, and in 1998, a new “Brigel-Muller” pre-defecator was installed, introducing a three-product sugar boiling system.

From 2001 to 2004, the plant focused on improving beet washing and slicing processes, installing thermometers in the diffusion column, and implementing energy-saving measures.

An interesting chapter in the plant’s history involves aviation. The plant’s owner, F.F. Tereshchenko, was passionate about aviation and built workshops near his estate in 1910 to manufacture monoplanes. In 1913, a monoplane from Chervonensky received high praise at an aviation exhibition in Kyiv.

Today, the plant operates as a private company under the name “Chervonsky Sugar Producer,” employing 223 people. Since 2007, it has undergone several phases of reconstruction, including the replacement of outdated diffusion equipment, major boiler repairs, and the construction of pulp drying and pressing departments. In 2018, the plant processed 326,552 tons of raw material, producing 42,748 tons of sugar — the highest amount in its history. As of 2023, the plant’s production capacity stands at 3,500 tons per day, and it is recognized as one of Ukraine’s top energy-efficient sugar producers.