Emami to commission biodiesel plant in early 2008

29 November 2007 14:32  [Source: ICIS news]

MUMBAI (ICIS news)--India’s Emami Biotech expects to commission its 100,000 tonne/year biodiesel plant at Haldia in West Bengal by January-February 2008, a source close to developments said on Thursday.

ICIS news had earlier reported that the plant was expected to be commissioned in December.

The company plans to export most of the biodiesel produced to the EU and the US, the source said.

The (Rs)1.5bn ($37.9m) project would use imported palm oil as feedstock due to the unavailability of locally-produced jatropha, he added.

"The company plans to shift to jatropha eventually. Also, rising prices of palm oil are becoming a major concern for us," the source said.

"But as the plant is nearly ready, the company needs feedstock," he added.

Emami is mulling in-house cultivation and contract farming for jatropha, as well as buying it from the open market once it is available, he said.

The company was also planning to tie up with state governments of West Bengal, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh for cultivating jatropha.

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($1 = Rs39.56)

By: Divya Chowdhury
+65 6780 4359

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