• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Victorias Milling Company is proposing to expand its bioethanol plant facility to increase production capacity to roughly 65,520 metric tons of bioethanol per year, from the current 49,140MT.
The proposed expansion, with indicative project cost of P200 million, “is driven by the growing national demand for fuel ethanol, which has reached approximately 840 million liters”, the VMC said in its project rationale, as it noted a “significant supply gap (since) local production remains at only around 390 million liters”.
This deficit is largely met through imports, exposing the country to international supply disruptions and price volatility, the company stressed. “By expanding distillery capacity, the project aims to increase domestic ethanol production and reduce dependence on imported fuel components.”
The project also supports the development of renewable energy, using locally-available agricultural byproducts, such as sugarcane molasses as feedstock; and is expected to generate employment opportunities, support local livelihoods, and contribute to economic growth in the surrounding communities, it added.
It is located in Barangay Purisima, Manapla, where the main bioethanol plant is, and in Barangay Caduha-an, Cadiz City, where the wastewater treatment facility is located, the VMC said.
The proposed expansion will include key facilities, such as the fermentation plant with cooling tower, spent wash boiler with steam turbine, spentwash evaporator, molasses ponds, and anhydrous alcohol storage tanks; as well as support infrastructure, like housing, dormitory, administrative buildings, a covered court, and a biodigester facility.
The Environmental Management Bureau-Negros Island Region, meanwhile, issued a notice of public scoping for the proposed project on Aug. 25 at Canetown Subdivision covered court in Manapla.
The EMB said public scoping is an early stage in the environmental impact assessment process where proponent VMC will provide an overview of the proposed project, gather issues and concerns and other relevant information from stakeholders.
All interested parties, organizations, and agencies are encouraged to provide inputs during the public scoping and public review periods with regard the project, the agency added. | CGC
