Naturol to start production in April

Naturol Bio-Energy Ltd is getting set for commercial production by April 2008.

The company started trial runs a few months ago with 2,500 tonnes of imported crude palmolein. It is expecting another shipment of 3,000 tonnes of crude palmolein from Malaysia in two to three weeks.

According to sources, the company has made all arrangements to export bio-diesel products to US and Europe-based multinational companies.

Chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy laid the foundation for the bio-diesel plant on April 1, 2006. The plant, built at a cost of Rs 140 crore, will have an annual capacity of over 100,000 tonne of bio-diesel products.

The unit is expected to generate direct employment for 120 people.

The jatropha plantation, being raised in the factory premises, may take another two or three years to be ready for production of bio-diesel.

Meanwhile, crude oil will be used as raw material and agreements have been signed with Malaysian companies for import of palmolein, sources added.

Naturol Bio has plans to promote jatropha cultivation on 200,000 acres. In the first phase, jatropha is being cultivated on 5,000 acres in the Jaggampet area in East Godavari district and nearly 300 farmers are engaged in its cultivation.

"We are getting ready to supply more jatropha plants to the farming community,'' said a company official.