Firms unite to set up new bioethanol plant in Gujarat

Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) and GAIL have joined forces to set-up a bioethanol plant with a 500 kilo litres per day (KLD) capacity.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up the new bioethanol plant in Gujarat and cooperation in other business areas of mutual interest was signed recently.
The plant will use corn/broken rice as feedstock with eco-friendly technology and it will produce 500 KLD bioethanol, which will be used for blending in petrol.
By-products from the plant will include 135 KTPA protein-rich animal feed and 16.50 KTPA of corn oil. Corn is expected to be used as a feedstock.
Dahod, Panchmahal, Aravalli and Mahisagar are major corn-producing districts in Gujarat. A detailed feasibility study through a third party is in progress for the project.
This project is also set to generate direct and indirect employment for around 700 individuals. Long term supply contract for corn is expected to encourage corn farming with sustainable, multi-fold income for farmers through increased productivity and assured market.
Steps will also be taken to improve the productivity of corn in the State with the help of the Maize Research Centre in Godhra.