November 2, 2007 (Hindu Business Line) – McLeod Russel, the world’s largest producer of tea, has diversified into bio-fuel in partnership with D1 of the UK and is making progress. About 55,000 hectares has been acquired in Jharkhand and North-east for jatropha plantation under contract farming and there was a proposal to acquire lands in Orissa also. “We have written to the West Bengal Government expressing our desire to undertake jatropha plantation in the State but we’re still awaiting a reply,” he said. The first refinery would be set up in the North-east next year. “Our plan is to grow jatropha over 200,000 hectares and produce bio-fuels and the estimated investment would be between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000 crore,” he said.
Asia Cleantech 