Indian company interested in alternative fuels dev’t in RP

Indian firm Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. has expressed keen interest to invest in alternative fuels development in the Philippines, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said.

"The DOE is currently coordinating with government and some private sector companies for a possible partnership with Jain. We may farm this out to private companies," DOE energy utilization management bureau director Mario Marasigan told reporters yesterday.

Jain is India’s only one-stop high-tech integrated agricultural shop and is engaged in the manufacture of bio-fertilizers.

Marasigan said Jain is looking at all possible business opportunities in the Philippines, including investment in jathropa technology.

"They want to use their technology in agriculture. They may look at putting up a bioethanol plant or planting jathropa," he said.

He said they have already talked with potential government partners for Jain such as Philippine Forest Corp., National Development Corp. and Philippine National Oil Co.

On the private sector part, he said they are facilitating possible partnership with oil companies that are now dealing with development of biofuel products.

Aside from biofuel technology, Jain is also engaged in Solar water heating systems and solar photovoltaic appliances, including solar lighting systems.

Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla had earlier said several firms from India and China have signified interest to invest in the businesses of bioethanol and biodiesel in the country.

"There are at least two to three Indian companies that have expressed interest to look at opportunities in biofuel development," he said.

This came after the Biofuels Act of 2006 was ratified in both houses of Congress last week.

Based on estimates, the country would need P40 billion worth of investment to develop the local jathropa industry alone.