The production of sugarcane in the Agro-Industrial Complex of Malanje, in Cacuso, will be extracted 16,000 cubic meters of ethanol and 155,000 megawatts of electricity.
Only in the production of sugar, ethanol and electricity derived from sugarcane, Biocom has a production area of 80,000 hectares.
This year, the harvest is expected to reach more than 530,000 tons of sugarcane.
In 2020, with the increase in production capacity of the first phase of the project will be processed 2.2 million tons of sugarcane to 256,000 sugar, 235,000 megawatts of electricity and 33 thousand cubic meters of ethanol .
According to the Deputy Director of Biocom, Luis Bagorro, with increased production capacity, the project reaches its maturity phase, allowing all families have a kilo of sugar Kapanda at a reasonable price.
"We feel proud to be part of the country's development and consecutively in the diversification of the national economy. With the production and marketing of sugar Kapanda, Angolans started to consume a product with guaranteed quality and the lowest price, "he said, adding that the production of sugar in the first phase, which culminates in 2020/2021, will be exclusively for the intern consumption. "We want to improve our service to ensure the country a considerable reduction in sugar imports," said Luis Bagorro.
More private investment
Biocom is currently the largest private investment in Angola, outside the oil sector, and is an important national development asset. With an investment of 750 million, it is the first Angolan company to produce white sugar crystal, ethanol and energy from biomass or bagasse from sugarcane. The industrial and agricultural process the company uses the latest technology.
Located in the Agro-Industrial Complex of Kapanda, Malanje, in the municipality of Cacuso, Biocom occupies a total area of 81,201 hectares, of which 70,106 are cultivable and 11,095 reserved for the preservation of the local fauna and flora.
The company's activities cover two areas of agricultural and industrial production.
Work in agriculture work throughout the year and include soil preparation, planting / replanting and harvesting of sugarcane, which this year began in June and ends in October.
The land used for planting / replanting needs corrections and nutrients that allow greater agricultural productivity. In this first phase, the sugarcane plantation is being made in an area of 42,500 hectares, of which 15,000 are already planted.
The industrial activity works full time throughout the harvest period, producing sugar, ethanol and energy.
In the remaining months of the year, the industry operates energy production by burning wood chips derived from vegetable removal of areas of the farm process. This period is also tapped to carry out maintenance of all equipment industry.
This operating system is typical of the alcohol from the sugarcane industry anywhere in the world and stems from crop failure in the rainy season.
Biocom in numbers
In 2015/2016 harvest, the Biocom produced 24,770 tonnes of sugar; 10,243 cubic meters of ethanol and generated 42,000 megawatts of electricity. For the period 2016/2017, the production will be 47 thousand tons of sugar, 16,000 cubic meters of ethanol and guarantee the generation of 155 megawatts of power. For 2020/2021, when you reach the maximum production capacity of the first phase, they will be produced 256,000 tons of sugar, 235,000 megawatts of electricity and 33 thousand cubic meters of ethanol.
The sugar produced by Biocom is intended for consumption in the domestic market. Hydrous ethanol has served the domestic industry of cleaning products and spirits, having reduced by more than 60 percent of imports. Electrical power is negotiated with the National Energy Company of Angola (RNT) and is currently providing the municipality of Cacuso and part of Luanda.
The strong investment in human and physical infrastructure resources has contributed significantly to the continuation of agricultural production, studies, laboratory research, advanced equipment and skilled labor.
In this sense, it has the most modern agricultural laboratory in the country with capacity to analyze soil, leaves and fertilizers, and provide relevant information for decision-making techniques that result in better crop yield of sugarcane. The Biocom agricultural laboratory is also prepared to provide services to third parties.
The company maintains its own nursery, where they are evaluated the most appropriate species of sugarcane to climate and soil conditions of the region. Farmed pre-sprouted seedlings of Biocom is to accelerate through the rapid multiplication, varieties with high potential for agricultural productivity and high quality raw material. There are 36 varieties of cane sugar imported from South Africa, Brazil and India, ten of which are already planted in an area of 15 hectares.
Biocom is a pioneer in the use of advanced management of sugarcane techniques. This year, the company started agricultural spraying for pest control and fertilization, using an aircraft. It was the first such experience in post-independence Angola.
Development potential
Production in Malanje is multifaceted. Men and machines take advantage of development potential. In total, 2,125 employees support the project that guarantees a better Angola.
Domingos Ngola, surveyor and Texeira Pedro, leading from the front, natural Cacuso, seized the opportunity to join the project.
The space where exercise corresponding current activity to 50 football fields. Experience in sugarcane plantation becomes the hope of the young lit. "It's a good project. It is very labor intensive, but worth it ", said Domingos Ngola, who lost count of the space that has scored in two years of work.
Although part of the work to be developed by high technological standard machines, the human is important. Pedro Teixeira knows what each is for the group. "Here we have equipment with up costs of $ 50,000 and it is necessary that those who are to manage them is fully responsible," he said.
In the cutting area, loading and transportation, Ricardo Guerra directs more than 100 people. A Brazilian national, said to be proud of the team we have. "They are very young and have more desire to learn and it helps a lot to do with everything goes as planned," he said
Ana, Francisca and Susana work in the harvest. The three are part of the morning shift and have the task to guarantee the truckers who transport the sugarcane to the factory where the product is processed.
In this area, the three women fill the crop order form. "It is a very important area and a lot of responsibility, because it is here that leaves the raw material for the production of sugar, ethanol and electricity," explained Ana.
For 2016/2017 harvest, three areas are defined, each with 200 hectares.
Reinaldo Huambo worked for a month and feel the difference in your life. "It's all very different. The organization is greater and the responsibility also, "he said.
Production of sugar
All agricultural production aims food industry installed a 17 000 hectares for the production of sugar, ethanol and electricity. The process of transformation of these products is over. It starts with the harvest of sugarcane that is 100 percent mechanized.
Then the sugarcane is transported by trucks to the industry, which is discharged, chopped and shredded. In the factory, the raw material passes through a diffuser, which is extracted from the broth for producing sugar and ethanol. At this stage, the pulp is separated and processed in boilers to generate steam, which is sent to the turbines for electricity generators. The broth passes through a heating treatment, clarifiers and filters to remove impurities. After being clarified broth passes through vaporizers that remove much of the water and transform it into "syrup" which in turn is pumped to the "pots" firing for crystallization of sugar.
Thereafter, the centrifuge separating sugar crystals from the liquid sugar. Then, sugar passes through driers to remove moisture contained in the crystals. At the dryer outlet, sugar is sent to the silo or warehouse, where it is bagged and then sold in bulk.
Community
Encouraging the economic and sustainable development to promote income is part of the social policy of the company. This is how more than 300 families see benefiting from a family farming program, where all the products are sold directly to Biocom. The couple also runs a project of mild soap manufacturing from used cooking oil. More than 20 women from Cacuso community benefit from the program and have the opportunity to develop professionally and contribute to the support of their families.
Luis Bagorro said there is also a sports program, education, culture and recreation that benefits hundreds of people. The school Palancas Negras, the aggregate project offers judo lessons, jujitsu and also cultural activities for dozens of children and youth of Cacuso region.
