Argentina's Sugar Refinery Triples Ethanol Production Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--One of the biggest sugar refineries in Argentina, Ingenio y Refineria San Martin del Tabacal S.R.L., has tripled its ethanol production capacity by adding a new alcohol distillery to its facilities. The distillery was inaugurated July 23. The refinery is located in the town of El Tabacal in the Oran district, about 300 kilometers from Salta in northwestern Argentina. The facility belongs to Tabacal Agroindustria (Buenos Aires), which produces sugars, juices, oils and alcohols.

The distillery's engineering, procurement and construction developer was Industria Di Bacco y Cia. S.A. (Tucuman, Argentina), which provides industrial services such as maintenance, consulting, construction and turnkey projects. Construction lasted 14 months and required an investment of $8.5 million.

Currently, ethanol production capacity at the refinery is about 79,000 gallons per day, three times the amount produced before the expansion. The ethanol is obtained from the fermentation and distillation of 500 tons of molasses, a byproduct of the production of sugar from sugarcane, and 1,200 tons of sugarcane juice.

The company produces different quality alcohols, which are mainly sold to the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, culinary and paint industries. Exports go to Chile, Uruguay, Central America, Europe and the United States. Tabacal Agroindustria acknowledges the current world demand for ethanol to make biofuels and expects to be part of the biofuels manufacturing industry by 2010.

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