Maharashtra: Sugar mills in state set to step up ethanol production

Starting from day one, sugar mills in Maharashtra have decided to go high on the production of ethanol, with a majority of the mills taking the B heavy molasses route to produce the fuel additive. A total of 41 sugar mills have started producing ethanol from B heavy molasses while nine mills are producing the same from sugar syrup. Also, six unique mills are producing ethanol directly from sugarcane juice on the lines of sugar mills in Brazil– the largest sugar producer in the world.

To increase the blending percentage of ethanol in petrol and thus reduce the import burden on the country, the central government has been pushing for the production of ethanol.