Page 2 - Ethanol Production

India to invest $67 bn in 5-6 years for developing gas sector: PM Modi

Ethanol policy has helped in reducing carbon emissions and fuel import bill, he says

Need to boost maize yields for meeting ethanol demand: NITI Aayog member

NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand on Wednesday stressed on the need to increase maize yields to meet the demand for ethanol production. Addressing a workshop on maize here, Chand said that achieving the higher maize productivity is crucial for increasing the maize production in the country, as per an official statement. Speaking on the occasion, Agriculure Secretary Manoj Ahuja emphasised the pivotal role of the private sector in formulating progressive strategies for the maize sector, positioning maize as the crop of opportunity. He also stressed on adoption of high-yielding seed varieties, cluster demonstration, procurement policy, and the necessity for the industry to collaborate with farmers for propelling maize production and ensuring better remuneration for farmers. Special Chief Secretary in the Punjab government K A P Sinha mentioned about challenges related to diversifying from paddy/wheat to maize in the state. He stressed the need for infrastructure, machinery, incentives

ISMA demands diversion of additional 1-1.2 mn tonnes sugar to make ethanol

Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) on Tuesday said it has requested the government to permit diversion of additional 10-12 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production in the current season, amid reports of higher output. The government has capped sugar diversion for ethanol making at 17 lakh tonnes for the current 2023-24 season (October-September) in view of likely fall in sugar production due to drought in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Till January 15 of the ongoing season, ISMA said mills have manufactured 149.52 lakh tonnes of the sweetener, down by 5.28 per cent from 157.87 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. However, as per reports, recent weather has been favourable for the standing cane crop and cane commissioners of major states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka have done upward revision in their sugar production estimates for 2023-24 SS to the tune of 5-10 per cent each," ISMA said in a statement. "We also believe that sugar production in the current

India in talks with Brazil for tech partnership to expand ethanol usage

India is in talks with Brazil for a technological partnership to expand usage of ethanol, amid a push for alternative fuels to cut carbon emission. Brazil has been using ethanol for a very long time in vehicles and there is a lot to learn from the South American nation, Union Minister V K Singh said on Tuesday. "We can learn from them (Brazil) and collaborate with them to ensure that we also develop an ecosystem for ethanol and such alcohol-based fuels," the Minister of State (MoS) for Road Transport and Highways said at the 'Assocham-Fuels of the Future 2.0' conference in the national capital. He further said that there is a need for awareness on alternative fuels to replace fossil fuels. Beside sugarcane, ethanol can also be produced using broken rice, maize and corn. "There is also a push on sustainable aviation fuel and we have conducted a trial of sustainable aviation fuels powered flight. The greatest challenge before us today is what alternative fuel we adopt and how we can

Sugarcane-ethanol policy: Solution will be found after April, says Gadkari

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday assured sugar mill owners that a solution to their problems owing to the government's policy on the use of sugar for ethanol production will be found after April, and they should not worry. India will one day become an exporter of energy and there was a need to develop agriculture for this to happen, he said, speaking at the International Sugarcane Conference organized by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute here. The institute is headed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The Union government last year banned the use of sugarcane juice for making ethanol, but later reversed the decision by allowing the use of sugarcane juice as well as B-heavy molasses to produce the green fuel but capped the diversion of sugar at 17 lakh tonnes. Gadkari said the sugar industry should give more importance to ethanol production. "Maximum ethanol, minimum sugar. With ethanol, we need to promote flex engine vehicles and at the same time, the government will take ...

Sugar factory lying shut in Goa to resume in one year, produce ethanol: CM

A state-run sugar factory, which has been shut in South Goa since 2019, would resume operation in the next one year and produce ethanol from sugarcane, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said. The Request For Qualification (RFQ) has been invited from the eligible bidders to re-start the Sanjivani Sugar Factory to produce ethanol from the sugarcane available in the surrounding talukas, he told reporters on Tuesday. The assurance was given as the sugarcane farmers were protesting since January 2, demanding resumption of operations at the factory, located at Usgao village in South Goa district. The state-run factory, which was started in 1974, produced sugar by procuring sugarcane from farmers till 2019, before it was shut due to the mounting debt. Sawant said the farmers need not protest as they are already being offered compensation for the last four years due to closure of the factory. He said the farmers have been cumulatively paid a compensation of Rs 30 crore by the state ...

OMCs hike procurement price of ethanol produced from maize by Rs 5.79/ltr

In sugarcane it is either through sugarcane juice or syrup, then B-heavy molasses and C-heavy molasses, while in grains it is mostly damaged foodgrains or maize

OMCs hike procurement price of ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses

After the hike, the procurement price of ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses would be Rs 56.28 per litre as against Rs 49.41 per litre in 2022-23 procurement season

Government allows cane juice, B-molasses to make ethanol in 2023-24

The government on Friday allowed sugar mills to use both cane juice and B-heavy molasses to produce ethanol but capped the diversion of sugar for the purpose at 17 lakh tonnes for the ongoing 2023-24 supply year. The latest decision comes a week after the government prohibited the use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup for making ethanol, amid the industry seeking reversal of the decision. "The flexibility has been given to sugar mills for using both sugarcane juice and B-heavy within an overall cap of 17 lakh tonnes of diversion of sugar for making ethanol in the ongoing 2023-24 supply year (November-October)," Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra told PTI. A committee of ministers took the decision during its meeting on Friday, he said. The decision has been taken amid representation received from the industry to review the December 7 order that banned use of cane juice and sugar syrup with immediate effect. It, however, had allowed supply of ethanol from existing offers received by Oi

Rs 15K cr at risk due to sudden ban on cane juice for making ethanol: ISMA

Industry body ISMA on Friday said the "sudden" ban on the use of cane juice for ethanol will have an adverse impact on capacity utilisation of mills, putting at "risk" their Rs 15,000 crore investment in the last three years to set up plants for green fuel. It also fears that there could be a delay in payments to sugarcane farmers. The Centre recently banned use of cane juice for ethanol in view of likely drop in sugar production during 2023-24 marketing year (October-September). Indian Sugar Mills' Association (ISMA) demanded that the government revise soon the prices of ethanol made from B-heavy and C-heavy mollases, a by-product of sugar, to improve the financial health of the millers. "The sudden ban on use of sugar cane juice/syrup for ethanol in 2023-24 supply year with immediate effect, is a big deterrent for the sugar industry," ISMA President Aditya Jhunjhunwala said at its 89th annual general meeting. The ban has put the industry in a difficult situation, he said, and ur

Sugar companies, govt eye truce on ethanol ban from sugarcane juice

No rollback of December 7 order; firms call for one-time waiver

'Working to prevent disruption of ethanol supplies for gasoline blending'

India's goal of raising ethanol blending in petrol to 20% from 2025/26 remains intact, Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said

Stop producing ethanol from sugarcane juice: Govt to all sugar mills

The 2023-24 sugar season started in October, while the ethanol supply year (ESY) started in November

Proposal in works to buy 100K tonnes of maize at minimum support price

Broad contours of the purchase plan have been discussed

Govt bans sugarcane juice, syrup for ethanol making in 2023-24 supply year

The Centre on Thursday banned the use of 'sugacane juice and sugar syrup' for ethanol production in the 2023-24 supply year that started this month, in order to maintain adequate sugar availability for domestic consumption and to keep prices under check. However, the government has allowed use of 'B-molasses' for ethanol production in 2023-24, a move which sugar industry bodies welcomed. In a letter issued to all sugar mills and distillers, the Food Ministry directed them "not to use sugarcane juice /sugar syrup" for ethanol production during the 2023-24 ethanol supply year (December-November). The directive was issued as per clause 4 and 5 of the Sugar (Control) Order 1966. "Supply of ethanol from existing offers received by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) from B-Heavy molasses will continue," Food ministry said in the letter. The decision by the ministry comes in the backdrop of estimated fall in sugar production in 2023-24 marketing year (October-September). Welcoming the move,

India considers curbing ethanol production to tackle sugar shortages

Authorities are studying a proposal to restrict the use of sugar-cane juice to produce biofuel for the current season, according to people familiar with the matter

India plans to discourage ethanol production to prioritise sugar: Report

India's fuel retailers buy ethanol from sugar mills to blend with gasoline and they were paying higher price for ethanol produced from juice and B-heavy molasses

'Sugar output may remain subdued, mills prefer sugar over ethanol'

Due to below-average rainfall in the sugarcane-growing areas this year, the sugar output is likely to remain subdued, but the mills in Maharashtra are keen on using the crop to produce the sweetener more than diverting it to manufacture ethanol, a top official said on Wednesday. Maharashtra produced a good amount of sugar in the past two years. But there was below-normal rainfall this year in sugar-producing areas, the official of Sugar Commissionerate told PTI. "The rainfall this time was less, hence the sugarcane production in the state will also remain low...During a meeting held with the stakeholders of sugar mills, they made this year's trend clear. As sugar is fetching good rates this year, the mills are keen on producing sugar. Hence, molasses diverted to make ethanol could be used to produce sugar this year," the official said. The sugar commissionerate had earlier predicted that in the 2023-24 sugar manufacturing season, 1,022 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane will be ...

Sugar to remain mainstay of business amid ethanol expansion: BCML

Sugar major Balrampur Chinni Mills Ltd (BCML) said that sugar will continue to be the primary focus despite expanding its ethanol production by 50 per cent to approximately 33 crore litres this season between November and April. A top company official revealed that the company has no immediate plans to venture into sugar retail. "Our goal is to strike a balance between sugar and ethanol production to maximize profitability and ensure sustainable growth, based on market conditions," BCML Promoter and Business Lead Avantika Saraogi told PTI. She is the daughter of BCML Chairman and Managing Director Vivek Saraogi. "The company foresees a 33:66 ratio between ethanol/alcohol and sugar for the year. Last year, the share of ethanol revenue was about 28 per cent," she said. BCML's decision to optimize its product mix is driven by a combination of factors, including fluctuating sugar prices and the government's ethanol blending policy. Saraogi pointed out that the country's sugar consump

Grain ethanol manufacturers seek up to 16% hike in procurement prices

In ESY 2022-23, the procurement price of ethanol produced from DFG, as fixed by OMCs, was Rs 64 per litre, and for maize, it was Rs 66.07 per litre