PORT WENTWORTH, GA. — The Imperial Sugar Co. resumed some operations at its Port Wentworth cane sugar refinery today and was expected to begin shipping sugar before the end of the week.

The plant’s boilers were fired up today, liquid sugar was expected to be shipped by Thursday and bulk refined granulated sugar was expected to be loaded out within 10 days, according to a report from the Associated Press.

The plant has been shut down since accumulated sugar dust ignited a fatal explosion and fire on Feb. 7, 2008.

The company last week reaffirmed it expected to begin granulated bulk sugar production in June and to have packaging capabilities completely restored in the fall of 2009.