Praj Focuses on Second Generation Biofuel
by Seema Singh (Forbes India/SME Mentor) … After three years of technology development and plant engineering, Praj is now building a commercial scale demonstration plant to produce ethanol – also called cellulosic ethanol – from biomass, which could be any form of agricultural waste, such as wheat and paddy waste, or wood chips.
…As it faces stiff competition from global giants, Praj is banking on its integrated solutions – a mix of technology and engineering. Most other companies have standalone systems to produce biofuel, whereas Praj aims to provide bolt-on units that can be added to existing plants.
The company also considers its multi-feed technology – which allows the use of biomass from different sources – to be a bonus. “As an integrated player, we can also be technology agnostic,” says Balu Sarma, its chief technology officer. He believes Praj’s offerings “will reduce Capex and improve operating time for its customers.”
…The lack of government policy and its implementation is making Praj target the global market, especially regions in Europe, China, Latin America and the US, where several plants are being built. Nearly half of Praj’s 2012 revenue of Rs 880 crore is coming from abroad. READ MORE
