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Rivière du Mât now powered by 96% renewable energy
Rum distillery Rivière du Mât, owned by La Martinquaise-Bardinet, now runs on 96% renewable energy.
The progress follows an extensive methanisation project and introduction of solar electricity. Methanisation is a natural process where biogas is produced from organic waste.
Established in 1886, Rivière du Mât is one of the oldest operating distilleries on Réunion Island. It was the first distillery on the island to introduce methanisation in 2011.
Today, the distillery is the only site on Réunion Island to have been certified with an ‘Afnor CSR (corporate social responsibility) commitment label’.
Teddy Boyer, director of the distillery, said: “We immediately identified the potential of this innovative technology, which will enable us to create a virtuous circle through four major objectives: recovering the residue from the distillation of our rums, the ‘vinasse’; produce biogas to power our distillery, reducing our fuel oil consumption by 96%; generate green electricity, covering the needs of 1,500 families on the island; and to finish, produce a natural fertiliser, ‘ferticanne’, which enables sugarcane growers to reduce their consumption of chemical fertilisers by 50%.”
The distillery has been able to achieve its sustainable goals with the help of a second methaniser, which was installed in 2020. A cogeneration unit was also introduced in 2022. The equipment helps the distillery recycle its waste and cut its impact on the environment.
Key statistics from the distillery include 800 tonnes of vinasses are transformed every day. The site also saves 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Remi Hermann, industrial director of La Martiniquaise-Bardinet Group, said: “This virtuous model [has been] developed since 1998 in our distilleries in Guadeloupe and in Martinique.
“With more than 25 years of expertise, we now have the necessary hindsight [to have] developed these initiatives, which demonstrate the group’s commitment to energy transition and sustainability, with the ambition of perpetuating rum production that is ever more respectful of the environment, while supporting local communities.”
In recent news relating to La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, in November, British bartender Ned Ratcliffe stormed to victory in The Bartenders Society Cocktail Competition global final.
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