Sugar makers rush to expand ethanol capacity; 114 applications approved

The Central government in June for the first time fixed a separate price for ethanol produced from B-heavy molasses and C-heavy molasses

The government’s attempts to boost the country’s ethanol capacity has met with encouraging response from the industry.

More than a hundred applications from leading sugar companies to set up new boilers and distilleries have been approved in the three months since the announcement, shows data sourced from the Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Officials at the department said leading sugar firms have sought approval for setting up additional capacities to make 1.25 billion litres of ethanol.

The companies include Triveni Engineering, Dhampur and DCM Shriram, Renuka Sugars, EID Parry and Dwarikesh Sugar and the applications — around 114 — involve subsidised loans