India : Ethanol produced from sugar uses less water than maize or rice: Govt study
A government study concludes that ethanol from sugarcane uses less water than maize or rice, benefiting the sugar industry through the ethanol blending programme. This has improved financial stability and timely payments to farmers. The government plans to increase ethanol prices and review sugar exports while aiming for a 25% ethanol blending target.
NEW DELHI: Putting to rest the long debate over whether ethanol produced from sugar consumes more water than maize or rice, a govt study, involving different specialised institutes, has concluded that the green fuel manufactured from sugar uses the least quantity of water. Citing the study’s findings, Union food secretary Sanjeev Chopra said while one litre of ethanol produced from sugarcane uses 3,630 litres of water, maize needs 4,670 litres and rice requires 10,790 litres.
He was speaking at a global conference organised by ISMA, the apex organisation of sugar manufacturers.
This would come as good news and policy certainty for the sugar industry, considering that the sweetener’s manufacturers have been the biggest beneficiary of the ethanol blending programme, as this has improved their financial health and ensured timely payment of cane dues to farmers.
Referring to earlier decisions to put some restrictions on use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup, which was subsequently lifted last month, Chopra said there had been several views on whether sugar-based ethanol is the best way to go forward in the country’s ethanol blending programme. “We have always maintained that the ethanol blending programme is critical to the financial strength and muscle of the sugar sector,” he said.
The secretary added that the govt’s ethanol blending programme has made the sugar industry self-sustaining since 2018-19.He also recalled how earlier the govt was giving a huge subsidy to the sector, almost Rs 12,000 crore spread over eight years. “That’s something of history now,” he said.
Meanwhile, the govt is considering increasing ethanol prices and raising the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar, and reviewing the exports of the sweetener.Union food and consumer affairs minister Pralhad Joshi had said on Thursday that his ministry has written to the Niti Aayog to prepare a roadmap for increasing the target of ethanol blending in petrol to 25%. The govt is confident of achieving the 20% target by March 2026, and this year, the overall ethanol blending has touched 14%.
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