Under the very high patronage of the President of the Republic, Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, the inauguration of La Distillerie Du Congo took place on Friday 27 June 2025 at the SARIS industrial site in Moutéla, in the presence of members of the Government, local authorities, Somdia Group management, SARIS teams and those of La Distillerie Du Congo.
This new unit marks an important milestone in the history of the country and the Group. The first distillery of its kind in the Congo, it will produce edible alcohol from the molasses produced by refining sugar at SARIS Congo, with a production capacity of 6 million litres a year.
A ground-breaking project with a vision
The Distillerie du Congo is part of a circular value-addition process that is consistent with Somdia Group’s industrial ambitions. Its inauguration marks the culmination of a major industrial project designed to make the most of the by-products of sugarcane processing.
“This is the culmination of a project that is full of meaning, ambition and, above all, collective commitment. It’s a first for the Castel Group, a strategic leap for Somdia, a turning point for SARIS, and a step forward for the entire Congolese agro-industrial fabric”, said Olivier Parent, Chairman and CEO of the Somdia Group.
A historic turning point in the country’s industrial policy
At a time when the Congo is stepping up its efforts to diversify its economy and develop a strong, competitive local industry, La Distillerie Du Congo represents a concrete response to this ambition, fully in line with the priorities for transforming the Congolese industrial fabric. It will also make it possible to structure a new sector around molasses recovery, while creating value locally.
“The inauguration of La Distillerie Du Congo marks a historic turning point in our policy of industrial development and economic diversification. This initiative will make a significant contribution to improving our trade balance, while meeting the growing demand from the national and sub-regional markets”, emphasised Antoine Nicéphore Fylla de Saint-Eudes, Minister for Industrial Development and the Promotion of the Private Sector.
The commissioning of La Distillerie Du Congo reinforces SARIS’ position as a major player committed to the country’s economic development. Designed from the outset as an integrated project, it also reflects Somdia Group’s commitment to an efficient, responsible and forward-looking agro-industry. It is also the result of a collective effort by teams determined to work in synergy to grow together.
