ICRISAT says sweet sorghum “ideal for India” as “food and fuel” crop

In India, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), based in Hyderabad, said that sweet sorghum is ideal as a “food and fuel” crop for India, based on the plant providing 8 units of energy for every unit of fossil-fuel energy invested. The National Sorghum Producers’ research director added that India has a 4 Mgy sweet sorghum plan in operation and that China is planning a 40 Mgy facility. Sorghum is grown in hilly and semi-arid areas where food crops have low yields that are not commercially viable.

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.

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.

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