India sets up ethanol plant in AP

NEW DELHI, June 24 (UPI) -- India's private bio-fuel major Sentini Group has set up a grain-based ethanol plant in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, inaugurated a grain-based ethanol unit at Gandepalli village in Krishna district, the company said.

Promoted by the Hyderabad-based Sentini Group, the plant could produce 45,000 kiloliters (nearly 12 million gallons) of ethanol and industrial alcohol from corn. The group has invested over $80 million on the plant, a company statement said.

The company is connected with Cemcorp Ltd. of Canada and its Indian partner, K.B.K. Chem-Engineering Private Ltd. of Pune in western Maharashtra state. It also sought the help of the United States-based Corn Plus, which had experience in operating corn-based ethanol and alcohol plants, the company said.

"The plant has been located at a place surrounded by corn-growing areas in Krishna and the neighboring districts. This assures ample supplies of corn, jowar (sorghum) and other coarse millets. The plant can also consume brokens of other cereals as well," said T. Seshagiri Rao, managing director of the company.