Manildra Group is expand its NSW distillery to produce an additional 90 million litres of ethanol each year for pharmaceutical and drinks industries.
“We’ve been operating our world-class distillery round-the-clock to increase production of pharmaceutical-grade ethanol, the active ingredient in hand sanitisers and surface disinfectants," said Manildra Group Managing Director John Honan.
"The use of these products has skyrocketed as a result of coronavirus. This includes in the frontline fight by NSW health and essential services workers – who we have been able to equip with the hand sanitiser critical to the safety of both patients, workers and communities.”
Hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol as the active ingredient is recommended by the World Health Organisation as part of the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“This investment will provide more than one hundred jobs during construction as well as provide additional ongoing employment opportunities at Manildra Group’s ethanol plant," Honan said.
Manildra Group’s seven-column, grain-neutral ethanol distillery – the largest in Australia – distils premium ethyl alcohol into a range of grades for food and spirits, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, industrial applications and transport fuels.
The NSW distillery, located in Nowra, uses only premium GMO-free wheat as a feedstock in the fermentation process.
“We’re proud to be able to assist the nation during this crisis – working with government, front line agencies, hand sanitiser and cleaning product manufacturers to meet the demand for locally- produced ethanol," Honan said.
“Manildra Group has been producing ethanol since 1992 and we’ve never experienced such an unprecedented level of demand.
“The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of local-manufacturing and we would encourage the nation to continue to support Australian manufacturing, local jobs and buy Australian made."
Manildra Group is an Associate Member of the Drinks Association.