Coimbatore: Sugar mills are focusing on increasing ethanol production and expanding existing production capacities, said Indian Sugar Mills Association president Aditya Jhunjhunwala, reports The Hindu.
At present 85% of the total ethanol produced in the country comes from sugar mills which is 730 crore litres per year. For achieving the target of 20% ethanol blending, there is a need for 1000 crore litres of ethanol per year, as per the Niti Aayog.
“We have requested the government to indicate the exact quantity that should come from sugar mills,” he said.
“Sugar mills have exhausted the quota of 6.1 million tonnes as the international demand was good this season. The prices of sugar in the international market are higher at Rs 53 per kg as against the ex-mill price of Rs 34.5 to 36 per kg,” he said.
“In the long run, the ethanol programme will be beneficial and we will soon produce the required ethanol for 20% blending. There are some problems but that will be resolved over time,” he said.
