Tata Chemicals S$ 25 mn in JOil Singapore

Tata Chemicals, the Tata group’s soda ash and fertilizer maker, has entered into definitive agreements for investing S$ 25 mn in JOil (Singapore) - a jatropha seeding company based in Singapore, which has been set up by the Temasek Life Science Laboratory Ltd.

Jatropha is considered an ideal starting material for biodiesel production for countries like India as it can be grown in wastelands.

Tata Chemicals would be able to access some excellent work done by Temesek Life Sciences on this plant and make superior quality of jatropha seeds available to those who are interested in its cultivation. It will also boost the company's own biofuel programme.

Under the agreement, Tata Chemicals would get exclusive marketing rights for JOil's jatropha seedlings. Tata Chemicals has been conducting field trails of jatropha in various locations in India and the investment in JOil will benefit its proposed large scale of jatropha plantation.