·       The Riopaila Castilla Agroindustrial Group closed the first half of the year, with income equivalent to $43,124 million from the production of fuel alcohol from cane.

·       The distillery, listed as the largest in the geographic valley of the Cauca River, currently employs environmental practices that allow it to reduce vinasse production. The low percentage that is generated is currently used in other production processes.

·       This month marks 8 years since the inauguration of the Riopaila Distillery, as part of its commitment to the development of Colombia.

Cali, August 2023. – At the end of the first half of the year, the Riopaila Castilla Agroindustrial Group announced that it mobilized more than 270 thousand vehicles with its fuel alcohol production, in accordance with the formula established by the national government for this period. The process of producing renewable fuel from sugar cane is part of the Group's commitment.

Riopaila Castilla's alcohol production allowed, in a year like 2022, more than 440,000 vehicles in the country to be oxygenated, thus contributing to the reduction of the impact of greenhouse gases caused by fossil fuels. This action is articulated with the company's commitment to a sustainable and environmentally friendly operation.

These figures were known when commemorating eight years of the company's entry into the alcohol production segment in Colombia, a project that began with the start-up of the company's distillery, located at the Riopaila Plant, in Zarzal, Valle del Cauca.

“The production capacity of our distillery is 400,000 liters per day, which are the result of an operation carried out under rigorous quality and sustainability standards. For the second half of this year, and taking into account climate projections, we hope to level out production and close 2023 with a figure similar to that of 2022, which was 40 million liters of alcohol.", explained Luisa Barona González, Operations Manager of the Riopaila Plant of the Riopaila Castilla Agroindustrial Group.

One of the successes of the distillery's operation during its first eight years of operation has been to minimize impacts on the environment through good sustainable practices. “Today we can say that we are the distillery that produces the least vinasse in the entire alcohol production process; We are talking about less than a liter of vinasse for every liter of alcohol we produce. In addition, we mix this waste with other components to convert it into organic fertilizer that we apply to our soils to improve their quality. “What we do is return to the earth what we, in part, take from it.”Barona explained.

Taking into account this environmental commitment, the vinasse (which is a waste in the fuel alcohol process) is used in a 100% for the production of agricultural fertilizers (Fertirio), which is used entirely in sugarcane crops. Additionally, 90% of the water required for production is recirculated through a cooling tower and reduced steam consumption within the distillery.

On its eighth anniversary, Riopaila Castilla recalled that the investment for the construction of the distillery amounted to around USD$70 million. “The bet is to continue with the diversity of products that we develop from sugar cane and maintain the contribution to the reduction of the carbon footprint that Colombia has achieved”concluded the Operation Manager of the Riopaila Plant.

About Riopaila Castilla
We are a Colombian Agroindustrial Group with 105 years of experience in the national and international market, focused on sustainable food production, green energy and renewable fuels for Colombia and the world.