Country’s first delinting plant (for cotton seeds) is to start production in the coming months. This will help not only to meet local demand of edible oil but also make healthy low protein feed for animals.
This was disclosed by Ghulam Rabbani & Co. Chief Executive Officer Ghulam Rabbani in a conversation with Profit. He said that with an initial investment of Rs134 million Nation Seeds Joint Venture Limited will start production in September this year.
“Its working capital turnover would be five billion rupees and the unit has 50 per cent share of foreign investment,” he said, adding that the unit is established at 267,000 square feet in Kotari Sindh. ‘We are at the commissioning phase right now, which means country’s first delinting plant is going to be a reality soon. He added that it will create employment for around 200 people.
The plant will also be environmentally friendly, he added. He further said that Pakistan consumes 13 million tonnes of edible oil annually and produces five million tones. The production of edible oil through this delinting plant would help meet local demand of edible oil. Though the reliance on imports of edible oil is not going to be affected much, he added.
In the frist stage of the process of delinting the lint is separated from cotton seed. The second stage is the process of dehulling and the third process is crushing of plasma to extract three per cent oil more from cotton seeds. Hull is used in animal feed and is an exportable commodity.
“Total production from the first unit will be 100 metric tonnes per day, while the production from second cut would be 67 metric tonnes of lint. A hundred and thirty metric tons of seed will be produced with an additional 70 metric tonnes from the crushing unit. A solvent plant will also be established to extract more oil from cotton seeds.
Ghulam further informed that traditionally lint is poorly separated from cotton seeds in the ginning factories of the country which leave the cotton seed with 37 per cent excess of protein in it, which in later stage is used as animal feed. This feed is harmful for the animals, consequently many dangerous diseases like kidney failure, abdominal paralyzing, high cholesterol and blood pressure are contracted by human beings he added.
“We are taking this initiative without any support, this is why the risk factor is very big. We would start another plant if this turns out to be a success, as many people are ready to invest in this program,” he said.
