Dubai-based Al Khaleej sugar refinery, one of the biggest in the world, is undergoing an expansion during a shutdown that will boost its capacity to 7,500 tonnes/day from 5,000 tonnes, its managing director said.

"We are targeting 7,500 tonnes (per day), hopefully when we come back in operation," Jamal Al Ghurair told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the Kingsman Dubai sugar conference which concluded on Monday.

"It's actually debottlenecking (upgrading centrifuges, filters, pipelines etc) in three or four areas in the refinery," he added.

The refinery shut on February 1 and is expected to reopen around February 25.-Reuters