Williamson Magor Biofuel to start commercial production of bio-diesel crude oil by 2012 in its Balipara plant

jatropha plantation in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Telegraph picture


Nagaon, Aug. 23: Joint venture company D1 Williamson Magor Biofuel Ltd has set 2012 as the target to start commercial production of bio-diesel crude oil. The company will initially produce 30,000 litres crude oil every day at its proposed Balipara plant in Sonitpur district. Initially, the product will be shipped to European countries through Chittagong port in Bangladesh.



A company source yesterday said the Balipara plant would take the shape of a full-fledged refinery in 2014 where 1.10 lakh litres of bio-diesel would be produced every day. Bio-fuel development centres mainly on the cultivation and processing of seeds of jatropha, a bio-fuel plant, which is rich in oil. Since 2006, our jatropha garden expanded up to 132,000 hectare area in India of which 51,000 hectares are in the northeastern states. Another one lakh hectares in the northeastern states is being targeted to be covered within the next five years,” the source said.



The proposed bio-diesel refinery in Balipara is a Rs 600-crore project for which preliminary works like site selection and other official formalities are complete. According to the company source, construction would start by the end of this year.“We have deposited Rs 2.67 crore for a 24-acre plot within Balipara-based industrial growth centre and works like submission of draft agreement to the state government has been completed. We hope Dispur would not delay the remaining work,” said manager (administration) D1 Williamson Magor, Digbijoy Borgohain.



According to him, the company plans to lay emphasis on involving the interested farmers of different parts of Assam to jatropha cultivation. Its main target areas include Karbi Anglong district where a vast highland area lies barren despite much potential.“Since 2008 we have covered 2,000 hectares in eastern part of the hill district and cultivation in another 8,000 hectares is continuing during this session. Our target is to cover another one lakh hectare within the next five years,” Borgohain said. Courtesy: THE TELEGRAPH

http://www.bharatpetroleum.com/YourCorner/PetroDailyDetails.aspx?Pnewsid=P000028814