Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) is set to increase exports of spirits when it starts its new $4.5B state-of-the-art bottling plant in March.

DDL Chairman Dr Yesu Persaud is flanked by, left, General Manager Loris Nathoo and board member Bert Carter.

“This fully automated plant, which is expected to start operation in early March, is part of the DDL expansion project announced in June,” the company said in a press release. The ongoing $4.5B expansion includes the bottling plant, a multi-column still and a bio-methanization plant. The current expansion follows more than $4B in capital expenditure over the last five years. During the same period corporation and property taxes exceeded $2.5B, dividends paid to shareholders exceeded $1.3B and emoluments and benefits paid to employees exceeded $7.5B.

The new bottling plant is fully automated and will allow a doubling of existing bottling capacity. This will cater for the projected increase demanded for the world renowned El Dorado branded products in both the local and international market.

During a media tour of the facility DDL Chairman Dr Yesu Persaud said “there has been continuous growth of the global market for El Dorado rums including recent success in penetrating all provinces of Canada as well as entry into the large Russian market.” The demand for El Dorado is one of the key drivers of the company’s present capital investments.

Persaud said too the bio-methanization plant will be the first of its kind in the English speaking Caribbean adding that DDL is not only leading the way for companies in Guyana but is leading the way for Guyana. According to the release the plant will use the spent wash from the distillery to produce bio-gas. This conversion of the spent wash bio-gas will allow for more environmentally friendly operations at the plant and will replace up to two thirds of the fuel oil currently used by the distillery.

Meanwhile, the multi-column still will provide additional capacity in flexibility in producing an even wider range of products at the distillery. This will allow the company to continue to compete successfully in the international market in the light of the escalating cost of fuel and other raw materials.

The chairman said despite the current downturn in the global economy DDL remains active and the group’s capital expansion continues as a demonstration of faith in the potential of the Guyanese economy and the rebounding of the global markets. In addition to the three major projects significant capital expansion is taking place at Distribution Services Limited and Demerara Shipping Company Limited, two of the other local companies in the DDL Group.