The Hindu Business Line : W.Bengal will soon have bio-fuel policy: CM

Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, with Mr Aditya Agarwal, Director of Emami Group, Mr R.S. Agarwal, Mr R. S. Goenka, Joint Chairmen, Mr Manish Goenka, Director, laying the foundation stone of Emami Biotech Pvt Ltd's bio-diesel plant in Haldia on Tuesday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Haldia April 24 "It is high time that we switched over to types of fuel other than petrol and diesel. Not only is bio-fuel environment-friendly, petrol and diesel production capacities are limited leading to severe shortages at some point of time." This was stated by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Tuesday while laying the foundation stone of Emami Biotech Private Ltd bio-tech plant here.

He said the State Government would come out with a bio-fuel policy as early as possible.

"We have started a pilot project in jatropha farming in Bankura (jatropha is a feedstock for the Emami plant). We need to locate other places where we can cultivate this crop," Mr Bhattacharjee added.

The Emami Group plans to commence commercial production of bio-diesel by this calendar year-end, according to Mr R.S. Goenka, Joint Chairman, Emami Group.

The bio-diesel plant spread over 25 acres is the first of its kind in eastern India and will require an investment of Rs 150 crore. The plant will have an initial production capacity of one lakh tonnes per annum. De Smet Engineering Private Ltd, a group company of Desmet Ballestra, an Italian-Belgian joint enterprise, will provide technical assistance to set up the plant.

During the first three years of operation, the Haldia plant will export bio-diesel to European countries besides selling "a small quantum" in the domestic market, Mr A. Agarwal, Director, Emami Group, said. Initially, Emami will import crude palm oil, palm fatty acid distillate and other suitable industry oils from Malaysia and Indonesia and will process these items for producing bio-diesel.

Pacts with farmers

In a bid to ensure adequate supply of jatropha, the company proposes to enter into agreements with farmers under which technical support, training and inputs will be provided and their produce would be bought back at an agreed price, Mr Agarwal said.

According to Mr Lakshman Seth, Member of Parliament and Chairman of Haldia Development Authority (HDA), within next two to three months, an additional 25 acres will be made available by the HDA to double the Emami plant capacity.