The Hindu Business Line : <I>Project to produce ethanol from sweet sorghum </I>

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat), in association with Rusni Distilleries Private Ltd, has demonstrated commercialisation of ethanol and bio-fuel production from stalks of sweet sorghum.

The Rs 24-crore project is slated to start production in June.

The Agri-Business Incubator (ABI) at Icrisat helped the company in the commercialisation through agro technology and business facilitation support in getting clearances and sourcing equity investment and loan.

Showcasing the process to members of Icrisat Board here, Dr Belum Subba Reddy, Principal Scientist of the institute, said production of ethanol from sweet sorghum proved to be cheaper than the conventional sugar cane-based production.

The other advantages of the procedure were less liquid effluents and additional revenue in the form of carbon credits.

The distillery plant, with an installed capacity of 40 kilolitres a day, is expected to benefit 20,000 farmers and farm workers in over 20,000 acres, Mr A.R. Palani Swamy, Managing Director of the company, said. The present demand for ethanol for blending with petrol at five per cent was 42 million litres and 84 million litres at 10 per cent rate in Andhra Pradesh alone.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Project to produce ethanol from sweet sorghum

Dubai exchange launches silver futures trading

A hill stands between Andhra fishermen, Gangavaram port

Spot rubber rules flat

Harrisons Malayalam bags Pak tea order

Balance sheets on water a hit in AP

Brazil to help boost domestic coffee offtake

TN bankers mull poultry package

Sample from MP district tests positive for bird flu

Marathi song dispels fears of bird flu

Pepper exports to Japan down

Opposition parties observe bandh in AP

Arun Bidappa dead