The Hindu Business Line : Icrisat, Rusni Distilleries develop model for using sweet sorghum

Industry & Economy - Non-conventional Energy
Agri-Biz & Commodities - Agricultural Institutions
Icrisat, Rusni Distilleries develop model for using sweet sorghum

MAKING ETHANOL

P.V. Sivakumar

Proof: Dr. A. R. Palani Swamy, Managing Director of Rusni Distilleries, displaying ethanol extracted from sweet sorghum at his plant in Mohammed Shapur village in Medak district, 65 km from Hyderabad. –

K.V.Kurmanath

Hyderabad, Sept 7 The model developed by Icrisat and Rusni Distilleries to produce ethanol from sweet sorghum on a mass scale has struck a chord with entrepreneurs in the Philippines, China, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania and Mexico.

“We have signed seven MoUs in the Philippines. Two co-operatives and two oil companies have shown interest to use the model,” Dr A.R. Palani Swamy, Managing Director of Rusni, told Business Line.

They have also entered into agreements with entrepreneurs in China, Mexico, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

While Icrisat will take care of agronomy-related issues in setting up the plants, Rusni would handhold the foreign companies in setting up the plant, process systems and other issues involved in producing ethanol.

Mr Belum V.S. Reddy, Principal Scientist (Breeding) at Icrisat’s Global Theme on Crop Improvement, said that the model would be replicated for Jade Co-operative of Mexico.

The initiative in the Philippines is in an advanced stage, with testing being conducted at 20 locations.

The preliminary results showed that productivity is higher by 60-70 per cent.

“They recorded 60-70 tonnes a hectare against 35-40 tonnes,” he said.

With the help of the Agri Business Incubator of Icrisat, Rusni set up a 40-kilolitre-a-day plant in Medak district.

The plant, which had begun commercial production in June, is expected to reach full capacity next month.

Though it uses sweet sorghum, the plant could use a variety of feed, including broken rice and corn.

The interesting aspect of the ethanol from sweet sorghum is that it uses only the stalk of the plant, while leaving the grains to the farmers.

More Stories on : Non-conventional Energy | Agricultural Institutions

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