Ethanol Company Limited eyeing new markets

Ethanol Company Limited (EthCo), a subsidiary of conglomerate Press Corporation Limited (PCL) has said it is geared to expand its footprint in Malawi and beyond.

EthCO Chief Executive Officer, Lusubilo Chakaniza, said the company is implementing various initiatives to add new products that will meet the demand on the market.

“Our strategy in the next few years includes ensuring that we increase our market share in Malawi and beyond and hence, we realise the importance of promoting our brand.

“We are raising awareness about our business and the products we are offering so that our customers can give us feedback to continuously improve,” Chakaniza said.

She further said the company will maintain its core values to increase its competitive advantage.

“We shall continue to be people centred, responsible, demonstrate integrity, uphold customer value and pursue excellence,” Chakaniza said.

EthCo is currently on an expansion drive to double its production capacity from eight million litres to 18 million litres annually.

The company recently acquired land in Nkhotakota where it wants to construct a sugar processing mill, where the company will be producing ethanol straight from sugar syrup unlike at the moment where it depends on sugar molasses from Illovo.

EthCo and its sister company, Chikwawa-based Press Cane Limited, another subsidiary of PCL plc, have a combined annual capacity of 45 million litres of ethanol after Press Cane recently upgraded its plant to be producing 27 million litres of ethanol annually.

Both companies are involved in the Ethanol Driven Vehicle project, a government initiative to use ethanol as a standalone fuel.