Iceland firm to set up Rs 8 cr geothermal technology Controlled Atmosphere plant at Tapri to benefit apple growers
Shimla: An Iceland-based company, Geotropy Iceland, will set up a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Store at Tapri in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district.
The project will be initiated on a pilot basis, using innovative geothermal technology, to benefit local apple growers.
A pact was inked between the Himachal Pradesh government and the company in this regard, in the presence of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, here on Saturday.
The managing director of Horticultural Produce Marketing & Processing Corporation (HPMC), Sudesh Kumar Mokhta signed the MoU on behalf of the state government, while the chairman of Geotropy Iceland Thomas Ottohansson represented the company.
The CA store would have a storage capacity of one thousand tonnes and would be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 8 crore.
Chief Minister Sukhu said that the state government would provide all possible assistance to the company in completing this project.
Among other benefits, the project uses geothermal energy, which is a renewable source that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, the CM noted.
"The adoption of geothermal technology is useful in reducing carbon footprints, aligning with the state government’s goal to preserve the environment. I am hopeful that the first geothermal technology-based CA store will be complete within a period of one year,” Sukhu said.
In the times to come, additional geothermal technology-based CA stores will be established in the Sutlej Valley area, said the Chief Minister.
Sukhu has directed to explore the possibilities of utilizing this new-age technology for electricity generation in the state.
Chairman of the company Thomas Ottohansson provided insights into the project, underscoring the advantages of employing geothermal technology for the storage facility.
The apple industry is considered the backbone of the hill economy, contributing Rs 5500 crore in annual revenue to the state GDP and supporting the livelihoods of three lakh apple growers.
Himachal Pradesh has immense potential in the processing, packaging, and control atmosphere units for apples.
(With UNI inputs)
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