BHUBANESWAR: In a major environment protection initiative, aluminium major Nalco is all set to adopt a state-of-the-art carbon sequestration mechanism to use CO2 emissions from its captive power plant for cultivating algae, that would in turn be utilised for producing bio-fuel, animal feed and pharmaceuticals. The foundation stone for implementation of the pilot project on carbon sequestration was laid by member-secretary of the State Pollution Control Board Sidhanta Das in the presence of Director (production) AK Sharma. The aluminium major has earmarked an area of 0.18 acre for the project and has engaged Indo-Can Technology Solutions as the technology partner in providing consultancy and services for its implementation. The project is targetted to be completed in 18 months. Carbon sequestration is a process of managing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) or other forms of carbon emissions that are now being released into the atmosphere and raising concerns over global warming. Under the sequestration mechanism, a battery of systems would be introduced into the flue gas stream to aid algae cultivation. Algae has been recognised as the most efficient photosynthetic and CO2 sequestering organism on Earth. Its productivity can be enhanced by supplementing it with high concentrations of CO2. It can achieve growth up to 10 times more than that of other land plants. As faster growth implies more photosynthesis and higher CO2 consumption, the algae produced can be utilised for production of bio-fuel, poultry and cattle feed, aquaculture feed and pharmaceutical products. The step has come at an opportune time when Orissa is facing a spurt in thermal power plants and coal-based industries and is looking at high volume CO2 release into the atmosphere. By adopting the clean development mechanism, Nalco would avail of carbon credits not only through sequestering but also by generating bio-energy and bio-products.