On 17 July 2006, the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar has launched Urja Ankur Fund (UAF) for developing cogeneration capacities in the sugar mills of the Maharashtra State. The UAF is a Rs 418-crore fund in which Maharashtra Government holds a stake of Rs 218 crore and Rs 200 crore is held by IL&FS.
Mr Pawar said 5000 MW is the countrys capacity for cogeneration, based on bagasse. Out of this, 1100 MW has already been commissioned but in Maharashtra only 32 MW has been commissioned. He urged the representatives of the sugar cooperatives to take up cogeneration with the help of UAF. With the help of the UAF, money would made available for cooperative sugar factories for setting up bagasse-based cogeneration power plants.
In the first phase of UAF, bagasse would be promoted for power generation. In the second phase, small hydro, municipal waste and geothermal energy would be considered for power generation. The co-operative sugar factories would get an additional Rs 100 to Rs 150 on every tonne of sugarcane crushed, if they opt for cogeneration.
In order to make the scheme viable, sugarcane crushing would have to be six-crore tonne in the State. It would give a return of Rs 600 crore to Rs 900 crore per annum to the farmers. Cooperatives in 11 districts of the State would be able to take advantage of this UAF.
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| Posted : 7/19/2006 |
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