Bayanzhuo'er municipal government recently has signed a cooperative framework agreement with ZTE Energy Co., Ltd to build the largest biomass energy base in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region by producing fuel ethanol with sweet sorghum based on the non-grain soil advantage of the Hetao Plain, sources reported.

Sweet sorghum as a green energy crop is featured by strong adaptability and low requirement for soil quality, and can be planted in the crop rotation pattern with sunflower. To plant sweet sorghum in the non-grain soil of the Hetao Plain, which features the unique advantage of "not competing for food with humans and not competing for land with food", fulfills the national policy on developing biomass energy and related industries, and can solve the problem of crop rotation as well. Apart from that, it can also apply to wasteland development and the transformation of medium and low-yield farmlands, thus playing a positive role in promoting structural adjustment of the planting industry and increasing the income of farmers.

Starting from 2005, Hetao Area has carried out experiments and pilot planting on more than 20 varieties of sweet sorghum introduced, and has established a main experiment zone on sweet sorghum, a saline-alkali soil test area and a pilot area. Currently, an ethanol plant with an annual output of 30,000 tons in Bayanzhuoer City is under plan.