The Hindu Business Line : Use more solar energy, tea industry urged

Coonoor, Dec. 23 The Commerce Ministry has urged United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) and Planters Energy Network (PEN) to join hands with Tea Board to bring about a renewable energy revolution in the tea industry.

The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Mr Jairam Ramesh, visited the Glendale tea factory near here on Sunday and interacted with Mr K. Gopalakrishnan, Director of Glenworth Estates Ltd., (which owns Glendale), Dr C. Palaniappan, General Secretary of PEN, Mr R.D. Nazeem, Tea Board Executive Director, and the UPASI Secretary General, Mr Ullas Menon.

“I am impressed with the improved solar heating system installed at Glendale and recommend this application to be extended to other factories not only in the Nilgiris but the rest of the country as well. This over 100-year old factory has shown the way to save energy for the nation and cost for the industry. Ordinarily, tea factories consume one kg of firewood to produce one kg of tea. By this model, they can save Rs 4-5 a kg of tea produced,” Mr Ramesh said.

Pointing out that daily some 30 trucks brought firewood from the plains to the Nilgiri tea factories, he said if solar heating is adopted, there would be saving of diesel besides reducing deforestation and vehicular pollution in the hills.

Mr Nazeem said: “Tea Board is involved in $2 million UNDP energy conservation project. We are conducting energy audits. The response from factories is overwhelming. We will extend the Glendale model to other factories after close monitoring”.

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