Government has directed all sugar mills and distilleries not to use sugarcane juice for ethanol production.
Government in a notification released on December 7, 2023, directed to all sugar mills and distilleries not to use Sugar Cane Juice/Sugar Syrup for Ethanol in ESY 2023-24 with immediate effect. Supply of ethanol from existing offers received by OMCs from B-Heavy molasses will continue.
According to experts, the step has been taken to ensure there’s an adequate supply of sugar in the local market. Deficient rain in the major sugar-producing states of Karnataka, and Maharashtra is likely to impact sugar production, therefore government is taking measures to ensure sufficient sugar availability in the country.
The current ethanol production capacity in India is 1,364 crore litres and is sufficient to meet the fuel blending targets, the Centre informed Rajya Sabha on Monday.
The Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India 2020-25, prepared by an inter-ministerial committee, estimated an ethanol requirement of 1,016 crore litres to achieve 20 per cent blending targets in ESY 2025-26. In line with the roadmap, oil marketing companies have achieved 10 per cent ethanol blending during 2021-22 and 12 per cent during 2022-23.
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