Somdia opens Republic of Congo’s first ethanol distillery to boost local supply
The Nkayi-based plant will produce over 6 million litres of ethanol annually using sugar refining by-products.
CONGO – Somdia, the agro-industrial subsidiary of the Castel Group, has inaugurated the Republic of Congo’s first ethanol distillery in the town of Nkayi.
The new facility marks a milestone in the country’s industrial development, with a production capacity of 50 cubic meters per day, equating to over 6 million litres of ethanol annually.
The distillery is designed to meet the Republic of Congo’s domestic ethanol demand, currently estimated at 5.5 million litres per year.
It will convert 25,000 tons of molasses—a by-product of sugar refining—into food-grade ethanol. The raw material will be supplied by Saris Congo, Somdia’s sugar production division.
Most of the ethanol will be directed toward the beverage sector, including use by Castel Group, reducing reliance on imports and ensuring a stable local supply.
The project aligns with Somdia’s long-term goal of transforming agricultural by-products into sustainable energy and industrial solutions.
Initiated in 2023, the ethanol project represents a €23 million (US$26.9M) investment over two years and includes the collaboration of several partners such as Praj, Congo Contracting, and Ponticelli.
“This is a proud moment for Somdia, Saris, and all our teams,” said Olivier Parent, CEO of Somdia. “Their dedication helped us overcome technical and human challenges to make this project a reality.”
Somdia operates across agriculture, processing, livestock, and distribution. Its activities include sugar cane cultivation, sugar production, animal feed processing, and limestone extraction for agriculture and construction use.
The company is also engaged in developing village maize and soybean farming near sugar cane fields to support further local industrial processing.
In 2023, Saris Congo exported 3,066 tonnes of sugar to Gabon in partnership with Africa Global Logistics Congo, contributing to the region’s agro-industrial trade.
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