Nosak Distilleries’ capacity hits 300,000 litres p/d

The Nigerian chemical industry has received a boost as Nosak Distilleries’ daily ethanol production reaches 300,000.

“The company has two plants producing ethanol with a capacity of 300,000 litres per day,’’ says the firm, in an information obtained from its website.

Crude ethanol is derived from agricultural products such as molasses, grain, sugar cane and cassava and is refined by the process of distillation/rectification fractional. The impurities are removed in the columns of hydro selection, correction and demethylation, Real Sector Watch gathered.

The firm also produces the steam boiler, which generates steam for heating distillation columns with 15 tons per hour capacity; the water treatment system, involving two wells with a total capacity of 100 m3 per hour and a water treatment plant with a capacity of 10 m3 per hour.

“There are two cooling towers that remove heat from the hot water coming out of the condensers of the distillery,’’ the firm says.

The firm also says it rides on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in all stages of its process.

“We know how the quality control, quality assurance and continuous improvement of quality are of paramount importance and we ensure compliance with hygiene standards in industry and staff, as an integral part our manufacturing practices of international quality,’’ adds the firm.

Analysts say Nosak is a key contributor to the recent positives in the chemical industry. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria’s (MAN) Economic Review of the last half of 2013 shows that in the chemical and pharmaceutical category, capacity utilisation rose to 53.6 percent in the second half of the year as against 46.6 percent obtained in the first half and 50.8 in the second half of 2012.

ODINAKA ANUDU