Citronella oil plant in Biliran revived

One of the major breakthroughs of DOST-8 in Biliran through the Biliran PSTC is its involvement in the revival of the citronella extraction plant in Brgy Bato, Biliran, Biliran. The SET-UP program is very instrumental in the rehabilitation of the project.

For more than a decade citronella oil extraction in Biliran, Biliran Province has always been on an on-off operation despite the market potential of the product both local and export. The problem then was project management-related with several organizations, from corporation to cooperative to single proprietor, drawn in the course of its ups and downs.

But what happened was history. The industry took a new step ahead in 2004 with the establishment of the new processing plant under the Biliran Essential Oil Manufacturing, Philippines owned by Mr. Jesus F. Doyon, Sr. BEOMP operated with one steam-based distiller at a capacity of 10 liters per batch out of 1000 kg air dried citronella grass. The plant usually produces one batch a day and employed 12 or more persons from harvesting of grass to the operator of distillation equipment.

With the limited production capability and high demand, Mr. Doyon and his plant consultant Engr. Jesus Villamil, envisioned increasing volume of output. They sought the assistance of the DOST-8 through the Biliran Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) Letran, who in turn tapped SET-UP of DOST.

Engineers Melchor Valdecañas and Rosalinda Torres, experts from the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) were deployed with support from Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) to evaluate the plant. The two recommended modifications for improving the efficiency of existing equipment and process.

To further boost production volume SET-UP assisted BEOMP in acquiring a new extractor amounting to PhP 365,000. The new equipment is a steam based distilling still with 600-1000 kg grass capacity per batch producing 6-10 liter citronella oil. It is made of stainless steel with vacuum pump to lessen the heating time and temperature of water used. It is designed to use wood as fuel with provision for LPG as alternate fuel in cases of wood fuel shortage.

The equipment, still undergoing minor modifications, was made operational starting the 1^st quarter of 2007 and has increased the production volume of the plant by about 60% at single batch production per day from 10 L to 16 L of oil daily, using the old and new distillers. Average employment of the plant is 16 persons per month. Average gross sales, based on declaration of the owner is approximately PhP 80,000/month.

Currently, the owner of the plant planted another 5 hectares of citronella grass in addition to the existing 50 hectare. Future plans include: the development of another 50 hectares for citronella plantation, acquisition of fire truck which can be used in case of bush fire and for watering the plantation area.