India’s Tata Chemicals to expand in a “big way” if 2.7 Mgy sweet sorghum ethanol plant is successful; exploring jatropha

February 5, 2008

Tata Chemicals will invest $12.7 million in a 3 Mgy sweet sorghum ethanol project in Nanded, Maharashtra. The facility, which will be constructed by Praj Industries, will open in 2010. Tata said that, if the plant is successful, the company would expand its operations and said that it is exploring jatropha cultivation five labs in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Tata Chemicals (TCL) recently said that it would join the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Research Consortium. By joining the Consortium, TCL will have access to Consortium research, including cultivation best practices and superior hybrids.

India and other countries continue to increase their focus on sweet sorghum as a feedstock, primarily because it can be cultivated on otherwise non-arable land and is inexpensive.

Earlier this month, Rusni Distilleries is planning to double its sweet sorghum ethanol capacity to 8 Mgy in March 2008, and Ultimate Bio Fuels has announced a 19 Mgy sweet sorghum facility in Visakhapatnam.

The completion of the projects will increase India’s sweet sorgum ethanol capacity to 38 Mgy.

China and the US are among other countries expanding sweet sorghum capacity. Recently, China released details of its biofuels plan, calling for production of 3.8 million metric tons of ethanol from sweet sorghum stalks.

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Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under International