AlcoNCP (Pty) Ltd (AlcoNCP) is a leading producer of various grades of high-quality neutral alcohol and Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) feed for the South African and International beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and livestock feed markets. AlcoNCP currently produces approximately 100 000m3 of high-quality alcohol and 70 000 tons of DDGS per annum at its existing facility located at 121 Sea Cow Lake Road, Durban.
The proposed project will entail two key components:
- Increasing the storage capacity of alcohol by installing two additional bulk storage tanks, a receiver tank, and supporting infrastructure; and ·
- Capturing and liquefaction of CO2 from the current fermentation process by constructing a CO2 liquefaction plant, thereby reducing the volume of CO2 currently emitted to the atmosphere.
Increase of Storage Capacity of Alcohol
To improve business flexibility, streamline logistics and planning, AlcoNCP proposes to expand its alcohol storage capacity at its production facility in Durban by installing the following:
- 2 x 424 m3 above ground alcohol storage tanks, adjacent to the existing alcohol storage tank farm.
- 1 x 100 m3 above ground alcohol receiver tank within the existing receiver tank farm area.
- Associated infrastructure, such as piping and a bund.
The alcohol storage tanks will be 15 m in height, 6 m in diameter and constructed of steel. The alcohol storage tanks will be bunded with a volumetric holding capacity of 100% of the largest tank volume with valves for drainage of stormwater during heavy rains. Bund dimensions for the alcohol storage tanks are as follows: 20 m long x 12 m wide x 2.75 m high. The proposed filling pipeline is 80 Nominal Bore (NB) diameter and approximately 30 m in length, whereas the proposed loading pipeline is 100NB diameter and approximately 15 m in length.
AlcoNCP will not be increasing the onsite production of alcohol, only the onsite storage capacity will increase. No additional changes will be made to the production facility and there will be no increase in the number of road tankers entering the site as part of the expansion of alcohol storage project.
Construction of a Liquefaction Plant to capture CO2 Emissions from the Fermentation Process
AlcoNCP generates biogenic Carbon Dioxide (CO2) as part of its fermentation process, which is currently emitted into the atmosphere. As part of its environmental commitment, AlcoNCP together with Air Products (Pty) Ltd (Air Products) have formed a joint venture to construct and operate a CO2 liquefaction plant at the premises of AlcoNCP. The proposed CO2 liquefaction plant will be located in the existing concrete isotainer parking area in the western section of the AlcoNCP site and occupy a footprint area of approximately 1 227m2. The CO2 plant will result in an additional 3 to 4 road tankers per day entering the site.
The purpose of the plant is to capture the CO2 gas which would have been emitted into the atmosphere, liquify the CO2 to an International Society of Beverage Technologists (ISBT) specification and thereafter sell it to third parties (customers). The plant is to refine and liquify approximately 115 tons of CO2 gas per day into high quality biogenic CO2 liquid.
The proposed project requires Environmental Authorisation in terms of the 2014 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations (as amended), promulgated under the National Environmental Management Act, 1998.
