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Hyderabad March 15 ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), in association with the Hyderabad-based Rusni Distilleries, is contemplating agreements with private companies in Africa to form `sweet sorghum for ethanol' consortia in the continent.

The institute is presently exploring opportunities for forming such consortia in Uganda, Nigeria, Mozambique and South Africa. It had already tied up with five private companies in the Philippines to form a consortium, which aimed at promoting the pro-poor fuel.

The institute has helped Rusni in setting up an ethanol production (from sweet sorghum) facility with a capacity of 40 kilo litres a day.

According to Dr William Dar, Director General of the institute, this was part of the institute's initiative on "pro-poor bio fuels", which helped improve energy and livelihood opportunities.

He said the institute would further develop and strengthen partnerships between the public and private organisations to promote these fuels.

"With the fuel prices increasing globally there is a demand for ethanol from sweet sorghum and bio diesel from pongamia and jatropha. We feel that it gives a good opportunity for dry land farmers to get more income from their farms and wastelands," he said in a press release.

In partnership with GTH (German development cooperation organisation), the institute teamed up with Southern Online Biotechnologies to set up a bio diesel plant in Nalgonda with a capacity of 40 kilo litres a day.

More Stories on : Agricultural Institutions | Non-conventional Energy | Alliances & Joint Ventures

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