Empee Distilleries moving into power sector

Aranthangi: The Aranthangi-based Empee Distilleries Ltd will foray into power generation by installing bio-mass based power plants in the State, according to a press release

As a first step, it has received the approval of the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) to set up a bio-mass based power plant of 10 MW capacity at its plant in Koothadivayal village near here. The plant will be commissioned in February, according to S. Pandiarajan, Manager (Power Projects), Empee Distilleries Ltd (Power Division).

The Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Empee Distilleries, Mr M. P. Purushothaman, and the Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Su. Tirunavukkarasar, will be among those who will participate in a function to mark the firing of the boiler to be held at the campus of the distilleries on Sunday.

The TEDA has been encouraging the setting up of plants of this nature to supplement the power generation for the State’s grid, the release said. Once the plant goes on stream “the firm will purchase a huge quantity of locally available fire-wood particularly Julia Flora available in and around Aranthagi. This will ensure a sustained opportunity for the villagers to market the firewood.”

The plant will offer direct employment to about 150 persons and indirect employment to about 1,000 persons, the press release added.