Moneymakers
LENDING A SUPPORT: For nearly 1.5 million South Africans infected with HIV virus and their dependents, life is going to be less of a burden. The Metropolitan Life, an insurance group, has launched the world's first commercial life cover for AIDS patients. The insurance cover is restricted to persons in the age group of 15-55 in the first and second stages of HIV infection when life expectancy is longest. The maximum death benefit is limited to US $13,220. According to predictions, 20-25 per cent of economically active South Africans will be infected with the virus within the next 10 years.
ADVANCED AUTOS: Mumbai-based Greaves Ltd, a Thapar group company, is all set to introduce an environment-friendly three-wheeler in the country. After the successful launch of the diesel version of the three-wheeler, the company is planning to launch four-stroke petrol version of the three year. The production petrol version has not been decided and would depend upon the demand generated for its diesel version, 'Garuda'.
STALE BUT SAFE: After hydrogen, electricity and the sun, used cooking oil is being billed as an -alternative to petrol and diesel. Someya Shoten, a Japanese company that collects and recycles oil in Tokyo, has managed to change old vegetable oil into a fuel similar to diesel. The company is producing about 1,000 litres of the fuel a day and 60 cars are running on it in Tokyo. The bio-diesel oil produces just cme-thir4 of the black smoke caused by ordinary diesel and does not make any sulphur dioxide. The fuel sells for US $11.05 per litre.
INFO GAINS: An India Software Development Centre (ISDC) will be set up soon in Bangalore, courtesy the California-based Aspect Development Inc, a company which provides component information systems for electronics design and manufacturing. A subsidiary of the Us firm, Aspect Development India his invested Rs three crore in its India Data Development Centre (IDDC). The ISDC, to be established at a cost of Rs five crores will be linked via satellite to the US and the IDDC and would have access to the Internet and World Wide Web.
SIFTING THE SMOKE: In a bid to reduce the pollutants spewed by vehicles on the roads, Tamil Nadu's Madras Refineries, a public sector undertaking owned by the Central government, will invest Rs 424 crore on a diesel hydro de-sulphurisation unit at Manali, to produce diesel with a revised sulphur specification. The company will also invest Rs 500 crore for a catalytic cracking reformer to upgrade the quality of petrol and bring down the lead content to zero level, in accordance with the strict pollution control norms. The project also aims to augment petrol output to 5,00,000 tonnes per annum.
ADDING sunshine: With a view to meeting the ever-increasing demands of the power-hungry megalopolis, Mumbai-based Tata Electric Companies has installed an experimental solar power unit near Lonavala in Maharashtra. The 110 KW photo-voltaic plant consists of 72 solar arrays with several silicon cells. It will provide first hand experience in operating similar units of larger sizes in Indian conditions. The plant has been connected to the Tata, Electric grid and is likely to have a service life of 25 years. The company is also planning to tap wind energy in the state.