Absolut Distillers allots P1.1-B for RE expansion

MANILA, Philippines — A subsidiary of Tanduay Distillers Inc.(TDI) is alloting P1.1 billion in the next three years for the expansion of its renewable energy (RE) initiatives.

In an interview, Absolut Distillers, Inc.(ADI) chief operating officer Gerry Tee told reporters that its RE expansion plans for its 24-hectare plant in Lian, Batangas include the development of a sugar mill, additional solar panels, and an expansion of its bioethanol facility.

“Priority is the P700 million [sugar] mill that would include a 3.5 Megawatt(MW)-capacity biomass plant,” Tee said.

Tee disclosed that the company was able to buy additional land for its Batangas plant last year, which brought its size to 24 hectares from the previous 16 hectares. He added that the company is still in negotiations for more land.

The development of a mill will give sugar farmers in the area an option where to bring their produce, Tee said.

He said the company already has a draft letter to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration(SRA) to apply for the set up of the sugar mill.

Cane juice resulting from the milling operations may be used as raw materials for the company’s bioethanol facility.

The company earlier said that using sugarcane juice as feedstock in its bioethanol facility enables its continuous operations despite the shrinking supply of molasses from sugarcane farms in Luzon.

Tee said the company is also targeting to expand the capacity of its bioethanol facility to 4.5 million liters per month.

Meanwhile, ADI is also targeting to add more solar panels in its Batangas plant by an additional 5 MW on top of the current 2MW capacity.

He added that about five hectares of the plant would be used for the expansion of its solar panels, which will be scattered around the area.

“We will start with 3MW and ramp it up to 5MW,” Tee said.

Tee said this should be done by 2020.

The ADI COO also mentioned plans to pursue waste water energy.

“I want our wastewater to have value. I want to sell our waste water to an entity that is not owned by our group,” Tee said.

Tee said the company is targeting to complete its expansion initiatives by 2021, which by then should give the plant a 12 MW capacity.

ADI was established in 1990 under the company Absolut Chemicals Inc. and operates an alcohol distillery plant located amidst vast sugarcane fields at Brgy. Malaruhatan, Lian Batangas, a 2-1/2 hour drive from Manila. It manufactures ethyl alcohol as its major product and liquefied carbon dioxide as fermentation by-product, which is used in the production of carbonated beverages such as soft drinks, and other industrial applications.