JWN gets rum production boost from new still, waste treatment plant
Published:Wednesday | February 14, 2024 | 12:09 AMNeville Graham/Business Reporter
RUM COMPANY J. Wray & Nephew Limited (JWN) is spending just under US$80 million to double its output with the installation of a new column still and the construction of a state-of-the-art waste treatment plant.
The semi-liquid waste from rum production is commonly called dunder or vinasse. JWN will spend US$65 million for the construction of dunder treatment plant at its New Yarmouth Distillery in Clarendon, Jamaica.
Delivering his welcoming remarks at New Yarmouth recently, Managing Director Jean Philippe Beyer said the commissioning of the new column still and the building of the dunder treatment plant are among two of the latest investments made to secure Jamaica’s future as a leading producer of quality rum.
“These investments will also increase our capacity to meet the increasing global demand for rums. Whether it is from the diaspora in UK, Canada or the USA, or from whiskey drinkers or new adorers, the demand for our rum has exploded in the last five years,” he said.
The treatment of dunder is critical to the rum production process. For every litre of rum produced, more than 15 litres of dunder is left behind. It has about five per cent in solids, but dissolved in the liquid are high concentrations of sulphates, nitrogen, phosphates and other substances that can pollute water sources, kill fish and harm soil if not properly disposed of. Added to that is the pungent smell of rotten eggs that dunder notoriously gives off.
The problem for any rum producer is how to treat and dispose of the dunder to keep pace with rum production. Beyer emphasised the critical role of sustainable dunder management as JWN increases its rum production.
“The current disposal method poses a bottleneck, and with the construction of the vinasse treatment plant, we are adopting a commercially viable and environmentally friendly solution to address this challenge,” Beyer said.
Beyer says the project has a 12-month completion timeline, but noted that timely completion is a matter of urgency.
“As our distillery’s capacity has doubled, we are producing more dunder than ever. The new plant will treat the waste sustainably, allowing us to overcome challenges posed by adverse weather conditions and changing weather patterns due to global warming,” the managing director said.
Beyer says in the meantime while the new treatment facility is being set up, excess dunder will be directed into designated cane fields for fertigation, and large ponds will be created for safe waste storage.
The dunder treatment facility will allow JWN to make maximum use of the newly commissioned column still. The bespoke setup was specially created with unique design innovations to enable the production of multiple rum marques from a single column.
The traditional pot stills only allow for the production of single rum types with each operation.