The only Lithuanian distillery finalised the four-year modernisation that required EUR 10 million of investment. From now on, the Obeliai Distillery will be using renewable energy, which will allow for cutting economic costs by 25% and increasing the volume of orders for Lithuanian farmers by up to 30%. The completed modernisation of the Lithuanian Obeliai Distillery, the only one in the region, will preserve its authenticity and ensure the supply of raw materials of exclusively Lithuanian origin to AB Vilniaus degtinė for the production of spirit drinks. According to Ms Dovilė Tamoševičienė, CEO of Vilniaus degtinė, these changes will enable the exclusively Lithuanian product to secure its share in a foreign market.
The Obeliai Distillery, a branch of Vilniaus degtinė, which has been in operation since 1907, is the only distillery in Lithuania. To the international concern Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits it represents the region’s unique spirit production unit that serves as a basis for the production of products of the exclusively Lithuanian origin – spirit drinks. New investments will enable the Obeliai Distillery to stand out not only as one of the oldest Baltic distilleries, but also as a distillery making use of renewable energy resources.
This stage of modernisation involved the installation of spirit rectification equipment and a biofuel boiler. Modernisation works performed at the distillery for the value of nearly EUR 10 million will increase the production capacity of the facility up to 27,000 litres of spirit a day (previously it reached 20,000 litres). During its first stage of modernisation implemented four years ago, the distillery built up a biogas plant and started generating electricity.
“Investments will allow for saving energy resources and using renewable energy, which is a great advantage,” said CEO D. Tamoševičienė. “Our aim is to make sure that our product is made of grains grown exceptionally on the Lithuanian land, that quality speaks for itself and, at the same time, the authenticity of products accords with the standards of foreign regions, such as Champagne or Cognac.”
Thanks to investments, the environmental situation significantly improved in Obeliai: as a result of biogas production, distilling dregs (by-products) will turn into an excellent fertiliser, while transition to biofuel will put an end not only to the use of the local fuel resource (wood shavings), but also to sulphur emissions and other emissions from fuel oil combustion. On top of that, the fuel itself is cheaper by 25%.
“Investments brought not only environmental, but also economic benefits. Electricity produced at our plant is cheaper by 30%, and heat generated from biogas combustion in internal combustion engines is utilised to obtain up to 1 ton of steam. Accordingly, the rectification of the environmental status has contributed to better economy, as we manage to save up to 25% of energy resources,” noted the CEO.
In the CEO’s words, a product of clear origin may not be produced from imported spirit, and in this regard the finalisation of the modernisation stage will ensure transparency of production processes from A to Z. It is only by going through all production processes that the company can identify itself as the true successor in the traditional production of Lithuanian vodka, and for this reason Vilniaus degtinė modernised the distillery’s distillation equipment and installed a up-to-date rectification line.
“With the start of production of rectified ethyl alcohol, the quality of our product improved, making us more competitive. The implementation of these investments allows us to rely exceptionally on renewable energy resources,” underlined D.Tamoševičienė. “We need only one grain to produce spirit, electricity, heat (in the form of steam) and agricultural fertiliser. The values of our company are consistent with those of the Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits Group – by following the best practices and employing innovation we invest in strengthening of links between quality and product and the area of origin.”
General Manager
Dovilė Tamoševičienė
852330819