Million rand lysine plant - the sugar connection
Fitz Gerald, C.
South African Sugar Journal 79(10): 230-231
1995
Document Number: 248118
Initial commissioning trials were successfully carried out on 29 July 1995 at the first commercial unit for making lysine in Africa, built by AECI Bioproducts (Pty) Ltd at Umbogintwi. The equipment is mostly of stainless steel and the total cost was R 300M. When operating at its designed output the unit will annually produce ~11 000 tons of lysine from 35 000 tons of high-test molasses (78% sugar, supplied from Hulett Refineries Limited in Durban) supplemented with ammonium salts; 2000 tons of lysine will replace imports, leaving 9000 for export. Used as a feed supplement for pigs and poultry, lysine improves protein utilization, increasing the nutritional value of feed and decreasing the amount of waste for disposal. The world price of lysine is currently ~10 000 R/ton, and the world market ~240 000 tons/year, supplied mainly from Japan, Korea and USA.