Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has permitted sugar mills and distilleries to manufacture Rectified Spirit (RS)/Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) from sugarcane juice and B-Heavy molasses (BHM).
Earlier, an order issued by the DFPD to sugar mills/distilleries on December 15 had stated that no diversion of sugarcane juice and BHM is allowed for production of RS/ENA.
Recently, the government also permitted sugar mills and distilleries to produce ethanol from sugarcane juice, B-Heavy Molasses, and C-Heavy Molasses during the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2024-25. Additionally, the government has lifted a previous ban and allowed the sale of up to 23 lakh tonnes of rice from Food Corporation of India (FCI) stocks to grain-based ethanol distilleries. This move is expected to significantly boost ethanol production.