NCP Alcohols

NCP is the leading supplier of the highest quality fermentation alcohol in Southern Africa. The operation, situated on the banks of the Umgeni River, approximately 5km from the centre of Durban, has an annual capacity of approximately 540 000 hl of ethanol, the biggest distillery in Africa. This distillery produces customer-defined quality natural ethanol for the domestic and international markets with a specific focus on the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care and cosmetic industries. Ethanol is a clear, colourless, flammable liquid, which is produced by the fermentation and distillation of sugar cane molasses, a by-product of the sugar industry.

The existing coal fired boiler house consists of two high pressure boilers and a third boiler that produces low pressure (LP) steam. In total the 3 boilers combust a total of approximately 56,000 tonnes per year of coal to produce the plant steam requirements.

Project 1: Fuel switching and energy efficiency measures at boiler house facilities are in progress. Historically steam was generated with coal and in the project case fuel gas will be used. Not only is gas a lower carbon intensive energy source, but the energy efficiency increase in replacing old coal boilers with new gas firing technology is significant.

Project 2: Energy efficiency – developing all CDM related documentation and assisting with complete project lifecycle

Sustainable Development

The project assists South Africa to achieve its goals of promoting sustainable development. Specifically, the project:
  • Reduces the atmospheric emissions of pollutants and improves the air quality of the region.The use of gas as a fuel introduces local environmental benefits specifically the reduction in atmospheric emissions, in particular sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate emissions, thereby improving the local air quality in Durban.
  • Reduces the amount of solid waste to landfill as there will be less ash to landfill as a result of the project activity. The available area for landfill in Durban is scarce. Decreasing solid waste to landfill will ensure that the life of the existing landfill is extended and the capacity expansion to a new land area will be delayed.
  • There will be an increase in the employment and skills development during the design and construction phase. The level of skills of gas fire tube boiler operators will improve and these skills can be exported to other industries in South Africa.
  • Acts as a clean technology demonstration project, of which the principles could be adopted in other Southern Africa industries.
  • Introduces a step towards the diversification of the supply options in the South African energy supply mix, reducing the heavy reliance (>70%) on coal for energy services.
  • By replacing/modifying/retrofitting the older technology coal fired Boiler 2 an improvement in energy efficiency for the new system occurs. This is in line with the sustainability principles advocated in the Energy Efficiency Accord of South Africa.

Using the available natural resources in an optimal manner, the NCP project activity helps to promote the development of alternatives to coal in South Africa, in particular the use of gas that has a significant potential in the country.

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