Empee group's biomass-based power plant commissioned

Chennai, May 28 (UNI) The 10 MW biomass-based power plant, set up by the power division of Empee Group, at Aranthangi in Pudukottai district, went onstream a few days ago and would qualify for carbon emission reduction certificates.

Empee Group Chairman M P Purushothaman said, in a release here today, that the entire quantity of clean renewable energy generated from this plant would be added to the state grid through the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. The power plant would generate 60 lakh units of power per month.

The Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) has awarded three licences to the Empee Group to set up biomass-based power plants at Pudukottai, Perambalur and Tiruvarur districts.

The group has been contributing to a global cause by mitigating carbon-dioxide emissions through the use of biomass for the project, he said.

''At present, we are buying biomass required for the plant from growers. We will soon set up our own captive tracts for biomass development as our requirement is huge. The biomass plants grow afresh every time they are harvested and we tap the energy available within the plant to generate electricity,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Empee Distilleries Ltd, the flagship company of the group, announced a 30 per cent maiden interim dividend for the half year, ending April 30 this year.

The company's accounting year was from October 1 to September 30 and the record date for eligibility for the dividend was May 21, 2008.

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