(BEPL)
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bajaj Hindusthan Limited (BHL), India's
largest sugar and fuel ethanol manufacturing company. BHL is part of the
renowned Bajaj Group, founded by the late Jamnalal Bajaj, who was a
close associate, confidante and adopted fifth son of Mahatma Gandhi.
BEPL is slated to be one of the only two companies in the world
manufacturing completely
wood-free Medium Density Fibre (MDF) boards
from sugarcane bagasse residue. However, BEPL's production line will be
the largest single production line in the world, manufacturing MDF
Boards from sugarcane bagasse.
BEPL will also be one of India's handful manufacturers of completely
wood-free Particle Boards made from sugarcane bagasse. Here
again, BEPL's production line will be the country's largest single
production line, manufacturing Particle Boards from sugarcane bagasse.
As engineered wood-substitutes, MDF boards and Particle Boards will
cater to the exponentially growing demand for wood in building
construction and furniture manufacture. The BPO and retail revolutions
in India are further boosting this demand for eco-friendly products.
BEPL will also manufacture
High Density Fibre (HDF) Boards and
Laminated Flooring.
BEPL will produce MDF, HDF and Particle Boards in both plain and
pre-laminated forms.
BEPL is very close to the completion and commissioning of two
state-of-the-art manufacturing units to produce MDF and HDF Boards. Each
unit has an installed capacity of 80,000 cubic metres of MDF Boards in a
year. One unit is adjacent to BHL's sugar mill in Palia Kalan (District
Lakhimpur Kheri) in central UP, while the other unit is adjacent to the
sugar plant in Kunderkhi (District Gonda) in Eastern UP.
BEPL's Particle Board manufacturing unit is located next to BHL's sugar
plant in Kinauni (District Meerut) in Western UP. This unit will turn
out 50,000 cubic metres of Particle Boards in a year. With the total
capacity of 210,000 cubic metres of MDF and Particle Boards, BEPL will
be the largest manufacturer of
Lignocellulosic boards in India.
One of the BPEL's major strength is the in-house availability of raw
material, the sugarcane bagasse residue. As India's largest sugar
manufacturer, BHL generates the largest quantity of sugarcane bagasse in
the country.
Benefits of using BEPL's MDF/HDF Boards, Particle Boards and
Laminated Flooring :
- Being an engineered wood-substitutes, the use of these products
will reduce consumption of precious wood and the destruction of the
fast depleting forests of our country.
- BEPL's installed capacity to manufacture 210,000 cubic metres of
bagasse-based MDF, HDF and Particle Boards should prevent the
cutting of over 420,000 mature trees in a year. This will
significantly reduce the presence of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. These green house gases
are responsible for global warming and climate change.
- Centuries ago, the total area of land covered by the forest in
India was estimated to be 40%. With the increasing demand of wood
and deforestation, today the forest cover is a meagre 19.3% as
against the stipulated 33%.
- What is even more alarming is that dense forests cover counts
only 11.2% of India's total geographical area.
- India is home to 16% of the world's population. But the country
has only 1.7% of the earth's forest area.
- The increased usage of these completely wood-free MDF Particle
Boards will boost the demand for sugarcane bagasse residue and hence
for sugarcane itself. Therefore, it will generate additional
livelihood opportunities for India's 50 million sugarcane farmers.
- It is estimated to enhance the quality of life of about 290
million Indians, who earn their livelihood from sugarcane
cultivation and sugar production.
- The growing use of these eco-friendly agro-boards will stimulate
the overall economic development of economically languishing rural
India.
- This industry will promote the use of sugarcane bagasse and other
agricultural crop residues, further enriching the environment.
- The increased use of eco-friendly MDF and Particle Boards will
help conserve India's valuable foreign exchange
India's import of wood-based MDF and Particle Boards cost an
estimated US $ 5 million in 2003, US $ 7 million in 2004 and US $ 30
million in 2005. The foreign exchange outgo is projected to touch US $
300 million by 2010.
