‘Progress of biodiesel plant in Nalgonda encouraging' – The Hindu Business Line, Hyderabad, May 4, 2006 

The biodiesel plant being set up by Southern Online Bio Technologies Ltd (SBT) in Nalgonda district could well be a model project for the German funding agency to replicate elsewhere.

Giving indications to this effect, Ms Karin Kortmann, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Republic of Germany said, the progress of the plant, expected to provide biodiesel from Pongamia / Jatropha was encouraging.

The German Government through GTZ has announced a grant of 380,000 to the SBT's biodiesel project under a public-private-partnership programme.

The grant would be routed through the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a press release from the company said.

The research and development in plantation of Pongamia / Jatropha and providing technology to the poor, needy farmers as well as unemployed, graduate youth in setting up the oil extraction units are envisaged under the project.

The German delegation interacted with small farmers from various villages who had gone in for the plantations. The Andhra Pradesh Government, keen on promoting the use of biodiesel, has announced incentives.

The Managing Director of SBT, Mr N. Satish Kumar, scientists from ICRISAT and officials of Nabard also accompanied the German team.