Indian firm to invest in Basic's cassava plantation project

MANILA, Philippines - An Indian company supplying clean technology committed to invest up to half a million dollars in the cassava plantation project of Basic Ecomarket Farms Inc. in Zamboanga. The partnership between Trio-Chem Group of Companies and Basic Energy Corp. is expected to establish an integrated feedstock farm, a bio-ethanol plant, and related facilities in the Philippines, Basic’s compliance officer Angel P. Gahol said. Basic Ecomarket Farms is a joint venture between Basic Energy and Ecomarket Farms Inc. engaged in cassava development and production. In August last year, Basic Energy decided to switch to cassava as preferred feedstock for the planned ethanol plant project. For its part, Basic Ecomarket Farms targets to cover 300 hectares of managed farms for 2009. This will be increased to 2,000 hectares by 2013. Basic Ecomarket Farms’ operations are focused on the Zamboanga peninsula. Basic Energy plans to continue enhancing its biofuel production capacities and its entry into renewable and alternative forms of energy while maintaining its various interests in oil and gas exploration. - Ruby Anne M. Rubio, GMANews.TV