Press Cane Ethanol Distillery Expansion

Project description

The Press Cane Ethanol Distillery Expansion Project seeks to increase production capacity through the establishment of an additional distillery and a dedicated sugarcane farm for self-sufficient feedstock supply. The plant is located on the banks of the Shire river, in Chikhwawa district, Southern. The main products of the distillery are fuel ethanol, and industrial alcohol. Sugar cane molasses are procured from Illovo Sugar factory and fermented into ethanol.

The project promoter PressCane Limited, in which Press Corporation Limited has a 50.1% stake, is a beacon of industrial excellence and prides itself for unwavering commitment to quality, environmental stewardship, and occupational health and safety, evidenced by its ISO certifications in Quality (ISO 9001), Environment (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001). The Company has, since its establishment in 2004, become the largest fuel ethanol producer in Malawi but now has a diversified range of products, all emerging from its inputs and outputs. This includes hollow blocks produced from fly-ash, the residues of coal which is used as a primary source of energy in the fermentation process. The recent addition of potable alcohol, produced using cutting-edge technology, is a major initiative towards higher profitability.

Recognising the importance of optimising the plant's capacity utilisation, which is currently at 68%, the company has partnered with the community in a backward integration, inclusive development initiative that will increase capacity utilisation when a 1,000-hectare sugarcane mega-farm under development delivers sugarcane to a syrup mill that is in the pipeline.

Financial requirements

Total project costs are estimated at EUR21.6 million (US$23.4 million)

The company needs to raise the EUR21.6 million in debt for the establishment of an additional distillery and a sugarcane farm to provide own source of feedstock.

Contact

The Chief Executive Officer

P.O. Box 236

Chikhwawa

MALAWI

Mr. Wasili Asi, General Manager, Press Properties Limited

• wmfungwe@presscorp.com
• sales@pressethanolmw.com